Lobos Complete Sweep of SDSU, 15-7

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – Down 5-1 with four frames complete, New Mexico Baseball scored in each of the next five and pounded out 19 hits in a 15-7 rout of San Diego State (15-34, 10-14 MW) on Sunday afternoon, completing the Lobos’ first three-game sweep of the Aztecs at Tony Gwynn Stadium since 2013.

With their fourth straight Mountain West series win and seventh victory in their last eight games, the Lobos (28-18, 15-9 MW) move into a three-way tie for first place in the Mountain West standings with six games to play. The series win also extends UNM’s winning streak over SDSU to six games – its longest since 2011-12.

After being held scoreless through three frames, New Mexico scored in each of the next six, including nine runs across the final three. After not exiting the ballpark once in the series’ first two games, the Lobos finished with five home runs and seven extra-base hits overall – their third game this season with five or more homers.

Will Asby (5-for-5, 2 2B, HR, 4 RBI, 3 R) posted a career-high five hits, homered for the second day in a row and became the first Lobo since Jake Holland last season to rack up five hits in a game (vs. Fresno State, 4/13/24). Tye Wood (3-for-6, HR, 3 RBI, 3 R) notched his third multi-hit effort of the weekend, while Karsen Waslefsky (3-for-4, HR, RBI, 3 R) also homered and scored three times to cap off a 7-for-12 series. Josh McAlister (3-for-6, RBI, 2 R, 2 SB) matched his season high with his fourth three-knock game of the year, while Ethan Ott (1-for-6, HR, 3 RBI) and Cooper Brass (1-for-5, HR, RBI) added homers of their own. Brass’ big fly was the first of his collegiate career.

Caleb Herd (1-for-3, RBI, 2 R) reached base three times and came up with a crucial two-out RBI single in the seventh with his lone hit, while Khalil Walker (2-for-5, RBI, R) drove in a run in the sixth.

On the mound, RHP Ryan Castillo (3.2 IP, 7 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 0 BB, 3 K) took a no decision after running into trouble in the fourth, with LHP Presley Monteforte (1.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 2 K) picking up his first collegiate win in relief. Tommy White (2.2 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 1 K) bridged the gap to the ninth, while Matt Romero (1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R) closed out the final frame with a quick 1-2-3 inning.

The Lobos turned two double plays defensively and committed no errors, while SDSU committed three defensive miscues that led to a pair of unearned runs for UNM.

ON DECK
The Lobos hit the road again next week for their second nonconference game with Texas Tech Wednesday in Lubbock before heading up to Colorado Springs for a weekend rematch with Air Force (May 9-11). Wednesday’s matchup will be available to stream via paid subscription to ESPN+, with next weekend’s free via the MW Network. Live stats, streaming options and more are available via GoLobos.com/BSBGameDay. Follow @UNMLoboBaseball on IG, X and Facebook for comprehensive coverage, promotional updates, behind-the-scenes content and more.

THE ALL-TIME SERIES
With their first road series sweep over the Aztecs since 2013, the Lobos have now won six in a row over SDSU dating back to last season’s home series – their longest string of wins over the Aztecs since a six-game win streak from 2011-2012.
• UNM is 91-134 against the Aztecs in an all-time series that dates back to 1960 – they’re 24-56 against them as WAC opponents (1978-1998) and 67-75 as members of the Mountain West (1999-present).
• Entering the 2024 season, the Lobos had an 11-game losing streak to SDSU that was snapped with 5-2 win in the series opener at Tony Gwynn Stadium on March 28. The win was Coach Brown’s first against SDSU — the Aztecs were the only team the Lobos faced this season that Brown had yet to defeat at least once in his coaching career.
• In their next meeting, the Lobos followed up with a sweep of SDSU at home (8-4, 19-5, 9-7) that snapped a streak of six consecutive series losses to the Aztecs dating back to 2019.