Lobos Hold Off Air Force in Weekend Opener, Extend Home Win Streak to 8

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – New Mexico Baseball (13-11, 5-2 MW) won its eighth home game in a row to open its Mountain West weekend series with Air Force (9-17, 2-5 MW) on Friday at Santa Ana Star Field, getting another stellar start on the bump from LHP Daxton Purser and three RBI each from Akili Carris and Josh McAlister to pace a 7-4 victory.

The Lobos have now won six of their last eight since getting swept in a four-game series on the road at Tarleton March 7-9. They remain undefeated in night games (5-0) as well as on Fridays in Mountain West play (3-0).

UNM struck first with a run in the opening inning before adding three more in the third thanks to an RBI grounder from Carris and a two-run bomb from McAlister – that lead remained unchanged until the Falcons (9-17, 2-5 MW) responded with a four-run sixth to briefly tie the game. The Lobos answered back promptly in the next two frames, plating two runs in the seventh – with two more RBI from Carris and McAlister – before adding an insurance run in the eighth to put the game away.

McAlister (2-for-4, HR, 2B 3 RBI) hit his team-leading ninth homer of the year and followed with a ground-rule double to lead the way offensively. Tye Wood (3-for-4, RBI, BB) and Khalil Walker (2-for-4) both had multi-hit nights, while Akili Carris (1-for-3, 3 RBI) drove in the first two runs of the night

On the mound, Purser (5.2 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 1 BB, 10 K) delivered another dominant start, reaching 11 consecutive shutout innings with a scoreless fifth before being tagged for three earned in the sixth — two of which were driven in after his exit from the game. Retiring 15 of the first 18 batters he faced, Purser came just one strikeout shy of matching a career-high he set last Friday in Reno (11). Since moving into the Friday role in UNM’s first MW series of the season, he’s posted a 2.70 ERA and is averaging 14.0 strikeouts per nine innings — UNM is 3-0 in those games.

Closing things out, RHP Josh Barnhouse (1.2 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 0 K) picked up the win in relief, while RHP Ty Cunningham (1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K) shut the door for his sixth save of the season.

ON DECK
The Lobos get a chance to clinch another weekend series with a win in tomorrow’s Game Two at 2 p.m. MT, with RHP Ryan Castillo (6.11 ERA, 3-2) set to get the start on the bump against Air Force RHP Gaines Estridge (7.40 ERA, 0-2).

All of this weekend’s home games will be broadcast free via the MW 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.

THE HIGHLIGHTS

⚾️ #MWBSB Highlights from @UNMLoboBaseball‘s 7-4 home win over Air Force pic.twitter.com/NhVEpD69Rv

— Mountain West (@MountainWest) March 29, 2025