Lobos Split DH with Northern Colorado
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — After surrendering a five-run lead over the final four innings of Game One to fall 15-11, New Mexico erupted for five homers and a total of 10 extra base hits behind a dominant outing on the bump from RHP Diego Alvarez and RHP Ty Cunningham to win Game Two 13-4 and snap a three-game skid.
Through their first two home games at Santa Ana Star Field, the Lobos had yet to send one out of their home park — only Josh McAlister (2 HR) and Tye Wood (1 HR) were the only UNM players to hit homers during their first four games in Arizona. That seal broke in emphatic fashion in Game Two, with five different Lobos going yard — all for their first of the year — to build a commanding lead that had them threatening to end the game early with a 10-run rule.
Jordy Oriach, Ethan Ott, and Akili Carris each tallied three hits apiece, with Oriach driving in a team-high 3 RBI. Along with Oriach, whose two-run shot in the opening frame got things started, Will Asby, Ott, Caleb Herd all went yard in the first three innings for an early 8-4 UNM lead, with Karsen Waslefsky hitting one more in the sixth. Khalil Walker added a triple — his second of the day after hitting his first of the season in Game One — and Ott and Carris both finished with multiple extra-base hits to round out a 16-hit effort.
UNM plated 15 runs in Friday’s weekend opener and 11 in Saturday’s Game One but came away emptyhanded in both — in Round 3, they scored 13 while keeping the Bears off the board for six frames in a row to close.
“Diego [Alvarez] was great today — solid as a rock and he competed in the zone,” said Carris postgame. “He allowed for our offense to stay hot.
“Hitters have been great and everybody is producing. We have no weak spots right now, and that’s when an offense is very dangerous.”
Alvarez went the longest on the mound of any Lobo starter this season with six-frame performance, holding UNC scoreless on two hits over the final three frames to stall their momentum. The junior righty allowed four earned on nine hits in total, striking out four while walking two to earn his first win of the year and improve to 1-1 on the season.
“I would say just getting ahead in the count, throwing strikes and letting my defense work — just letting them do what they do,” said Alvarez of what has been working for him in his last two outings. The Pima CC product was effective as a midweek starter on Tuesday at Arizona as well despite being tagged with the loss, holding the Wildcats scoreless on just one hit over the first three frames.
RHP Ty Cunningham impressed in relief as well, retiring nine of the final 10 batters while holding the Bears hitless in that span to slam the door on a comeback — he earned his second save in as many appearances.
ON DECK
The Lobos (3-4) can secure a series split and get back to .500 on the season with a win in Sunday’s finale, set for a 12 p.m. MT first pitch. All of UNM’s Home Opening Weekend will be broadcast for free via the Mountain West Network, with live stats, streaming options and more available via GoLobos.com/BSBGameDay. Follow @UNMLoboBaseball on IG, X and Facebook for comprehensive coverage, promotional updates, behind-the-scenes content and more.
ACROSS 18 INNINGS
Six different Lobos hit above .300 on the day – Jordy Oriach (.600), Akili Carris (.556), Khalil Walker (.500), Josh McAlister (.429), Ethan Ott (.400), and Luke Banister (.400). Oriach led the offense with a 6-for-10 performance in two starts over in left field, hitting two doubles in Game One before homering in Game Two. Among his four hits, Walker hit two triples and a double after not tripling once the entire 2024 season. As a team, the Lobos hit .400 on the day and outslugged Northern Colorado 59-34 in total bases.
On the mound, Diego Alvarez turned in the best start of the day, earning the win with six innings of work in Game Two, allowing four earned runs on nine hits while striking out four. RHP David Lopez made his second start of the season in Game One, going 3 2/3 innings and allowing just one earned run despite giving up four total. LHP Matthew Cornelius (2.1 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 1 K) and LHP Daxton Purser (3.0 IP, 9 H, 9 ER, 2 BB, 4 K) combined to throw the rest of that game, with Purser tagged with the loss to drop to 0-1 on the season.
This story will be updated.
