Lobos Erupt for 20 Hits to Run-Rule WSU, Clinch Weekend Series
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — New Mexico Baseball (19-15, 8-6 MW) unleashed an offensive avalanche to clinch the weekend series against Washington State on Saturday at Santa Ana Star Field, scoring 24 runs on 20 hits to run-rule the Cougars (13-21, 6-8) in seven innings, 24-14.
The Lobos erased an early 5-2 deficit with an 11-run fourth — their largest single-inning output this season — and never looked back, posting their highest run total since a 31-16 win over UNLV on March 5, 2024 thanks to 11 more across the next three frames to put the Cougars away even after a four-spot from WSU in the top of the seventh cut the Lobos’ lead to nine and threatened to keep the game going. It’s UNM’s second run-rule victory this week after routing Texas Tech 15-5 on Tuesday and third win by 10 or more runs this season.
With their third win in a row since dropping all three last weekend at Fresno, the Lobos are now tied with San Jose State for second place in the league standings at 8-6 in conference play after the Spartans defeated Nevada 7-5 on the road on Saturday. UNM can move back into a tie with Fresno State (16-18, 9-5 MW) with a sweep and Bulldogs loss on Sunday.
| MOUNTAIN WEST BASEBALL STANDINGS THROUGH 4/12 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | Team | MW | Win % | GB | Overall | Overall Win % | Last 10 | Streak |
| 1 | Fresno State | 9-5 | 0.643 | – | 16-18 | 0.471 | 6-4 | 1 Loss |
| 2 | San Jose State | 8-6 | 0.571 | 1 | 20-15 | 0.571 | 4-6 | 2 Wins |
| 2 | New Mexico | 8-6 | 0.571 | 1 | 19-15 | 0.559 | 6-4 | 3 Wins |
| 4 | Nevada | 7-7 | 0.500 | 2 | 18-15 | 0.545 | 4-6 | 2 Losses |
| 4 | San Diego State | 7-7 | 0.500 | 2 | 11-24 | 0.314 | 5-5 | 1 Win |
| 6 | Washington State | 6-8 | 0.429 | 3 | 13-21 | 0.382 | 4-6 | 2 Losses |
| 6 | Air Force | 6-8 | 0.429 | 3 | 13-22 | 0.371 | 4-6 | 1 Win |
| 8 | UNLV | 5-9 | 0.357 | 4 | 18-17 | 0.514 | 4-6 | 1 Loss |
UNM saw all nine starters reach base multiple times to go with eight that finished with multiple hits, including four with multiple RBIs. Senior first baseman Ethan Ott (2-for-3, HR, 2B, 4 BB, 4 RBI, 5 R) led the charge with his ninth home run of the year and notched a career-high by scoring five times, while Akili Carris (2-for-4, 2 2B, 4 RBI, 3 R) notched his 10th multi-RBI game of the season after driving in multiple runs eight times in the first two seasons of his collegiate career.
Ott got the offensive deluge started for the Lobos with a two-run bomb in the opening frame to tie things up at 2-2 — his fourth homer in the last eight days. In that span, he’s batting .647 (11/17) with five multi-hit games and seven walks, with three of them coming today.
Luke Mansy (2-for-3, 2B, 2 BB, 4 R, 2 RBI) extended his team-leading hit streak to seven games with his fifth multi-hit outing in that span, raising his batting average to .476, while Josh McAlister (2-for-6, 2B, 4 RBI) matched a career-high from earlier this season with four RBI. Will Asby (3-for-6, 2 RBI), Jordy Oriach (3-for-4, 2 2B, 4 R), and Tye Wood (3-for-5, 2B, 3 RBI) rounded out the Lobos’ trio of three-hit performers, with Wood making it three games in a row in which he’s finished with three hits –Wood is batting 0.692 on the week with 6 runs, 6 RBI and 16 total bases (4 doubles, 1 homer).
Caleb Herd (2-for-4, 4 RBI) drove in a career-high four runs out of the nine-hole on a pair of hits in the fourth and fifth to help extend UNM’s rallies in both, and Khalil Walker (1-for-3, 2 BB, RBI) added his fifth multi-walk game of the year.
On the mound, RHP Luke Wiseman (1.2 IP, 6 H, 4 ER, 3 K) earned the win in relief after LHP Presley Monteforte (4.1 IP, 7 H, 6 ER, 2 K) exited with a 13-6 lead in the fifth. LHP Matt Romero (1.0 IP, 3 H, 4 ER, 2 K) closed out the seventh after Washington State made one final push, but the Lobos’ explosive day at the plate made the difference.
ON DECK
New Mexico (19-15, 8-6 MW) goes for the sweep in Sunday’s series finale at 12 p.m. MT at Santa Ana Star Field. 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 24-14 win over Washington State pic.twitter.com/Ca6MLrOkZQ
— Mountain West (@MountainWest) April 13, 2025