Lobos Fall in Finale at Fresno, 13-7
FRESNO, Calif. – New Mexico kept Fresno State off the board for the final four frames of their Mountain West weekend finale on Sunday at Beiden Field, but couldn’t muster a response after the Bulldogs’ early offensive outburst, falling 13-7.
The Lobos (16-15, 6-6 MW) jumped out to an early 6-1 lead after chasing Bulldogs starter Kaleb Hay from the game with six runs on seven hits in the top of the second, with five different Lobos driving in runs. But the Bulldogs responded with 12 runs across the next three frames to retake control and the Lobos didn’t get another run across until the top of the seventh, when Cooper Brass cashed in a leadoff walk from Gene Trujillo and a double from Luke Mansy with an RBI grounder.
Will Asby (2-for-5, 2B, 2 RBI), Luke Mansy (2-for-4, 2B) and Khalil Walker (2-for-4) led New Mexico’s nine-hit effort, with Asby driving in a pair with his 13th double of the season and Mansy collecting his fourth double of the year in the seventh. Jordy Oriach (1-for-4, RBI), Tye Wood (1-for-3, RBI), Karsen Waslefsky (1-for-4, RBI) and Cooper Brass (0-for-2, RBI) all finished with an RBI each, with Josh McAlister and Ethan Ott both finishing with a hit and a run apiece.
RHP Tommy White (4.2 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 5 K) calmed things down after the Bulldogs’ early outburst with three scoreless frames in a row, producing the first two outs in the bottom of the eighth before RHP Brian McBroom entered to get the strikeout and keep things moving into the ninth.
RHP Pengelly (1.2 IP, 6 H, 5 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 3 K) took the loss in the start, keeping the damage minimal after Fresno loaded the bases in the opening frame but giving up a pair of early crooked numbers in the next two. RHP Josh Barnhouse (1.1 IP, 2 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 3 BB, 1 K) and RHP Ty Cunningham (0.0 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 BB) took over in relief before White and McBroom combined for the rest of the game.
ON DECK
The Lobos (16-15, 6-6 MW) return home for nonconference midweek action against Texas Tech at Santa Ana Star Field on Tuesday.