Lobos Blow Out San Jose in Friday Opener, 25-5
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – New Mexico plated six runs in the opening frame and 11 in the bottom of the sixth en route to its most lopsided victory of the season in Friday’s Mountain West series opener with San Jose State (20-22, 10-9 MW) at Santa Ana Star Field, run-ruling the Spartans 25-5 in seven innings for the Lobos’ eighth win in their last 10.
In anticipation of expected weather conditions, first pitch for tomorrow’s Game Two has been moved up to 12 p.m. MT.
New Mexico exploded out of the gates with six runs in the first inning, setting the tone early before continuing to pile on in nearly every frame. The Lobos added three in the third, three more in the fourth, and two in the fifth to build a commanding lead, but the defining moment came in the bottom of the sixth, where UNM plated 11 runs on seven hits – capped by three-run homers from Gene Trujillo and a Karsen Waslefsky – that all but ensured the Lobos could end it in seven innings with a ten-run rule.
All nine starters reached base at least once and combined for 21 hits, 11 walks, and 21 RBI, marking the Lobos’ highest scoring output of the year and their second game this season with 20 or more hits. Ten different Lobos recorded a hit, with six notching multi-hit efforts and 10 collecting at least one RBI.
Karsen Waslefsky (3-for-4, HR, 4 RBI, SB) finished with three hits for the third time this season and belted his fourth homer of the year as part of an 11-run sixth inning that put the game out of reach. Ethan Ott (3-for-3, 2 2B, 2 RBI, 3 BB) reached base in all six plate appearances and notched his 13th and 14th doubles of the season for a pair of RBI and three runs scored.
Will Asby (4-for-5, 2B, RBI, 4 R) recorded his first four-hit game of the year – and fourth as a Lobo – while Khalil Walker (3-for-4, 2 RBI) added his 18th multi-hit game and 36th in his two seasons as a Lobo. Luke Mansy (1-for-3, 2B, 4 RBI) notched a new career-high with four RBI and extended his team-leading on-base streak to 13 games, while Gene Trujillo (pinch-hit 3-run HR) added the exclamation point in the sixth with his second homer of the season.
On the mound, LHP Daxton Purser (5.1 IP, 11 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 6 K) improved to 3-3 with his second consecutive win in conference play after exiting the game with a 14-5 lead. RHP Josh Barnhouse finished the job with 1.2 hitless innings and three strikeouts, the last two of which came back-to-back to seal the deal in emphatic fashion in the top of the seventh.
ON DECK
The Lobos (24-17, 11-8 MW) get two opportunities to clinch the weekend series in tomorrow’s Game Two (Noon MT) and Sunday’ Game Three (Noon MT). All of this weekend’s series at Santa Ana Star Field will be available to stream 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 25-5 win in seven innings over San José State pic.twitter.com/jcIXmMIGOr
— Mountain West (@MountainWest) April 26, 2025
ALL-TIME SERIES
• In an all-time series between the Spartans and Lobos that began in 1998, UNM improves to 31-23-1 overall with a 21-7 mark at home and 10-11 away.
• The Lobos went 3-4 against SJSU last year, taking two of three in Albuquerque before the Spartans returned the favor in San Jose. UNM is 0-1 against the Spartans on neutral fields after falling to them in the opening round of the MW tournament last spring (5/23).
• Since SJSU joined the MW before the 2014 season, UNM is 29-20-21 against them.