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Lobos Clinch MW Tournament Berth, Tie Up Weekend Series at Air Force

Lobos Clinch MW Tournament Berth, Tie Up Weekend Series at Air ForceLobos Clinch MW Tournament Berth, Tie Up Weekend Series at Air Force
Box Score

U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. – New Mexico erupted for back-to-back-to-back home runs to ignite a momentum-shifting fifth inning and held off Air Force 9-6 on Saturday afternoon at Erdle Field, securing a bounce-back win to even the weekend series and clinch a spot in the 2025 Mountain West Conference Tournament.

With the victory, the Lobos (29-19, 16-10 MW) punched their ticket to the MW Tournament in Mesa, Ariz. (May 21–25) and guaranteed they’ll remain in at least a tie for first place in the conference standings for the time being. They’ve now qualified for the conference tournament in back-to-back years after making it for the first time since 2017 last season.

Trailing 3-2 entering the top of the fifth, UNM’s offense came alive with three consecutive solo home runs from Tye Wood, Will Asby, and Jordy Oriach — marking the first time the Lobos have gone yard back-to-back-to-back since 2007. Oriach’s fifth-inning blast was his second of the day after he put UNM up 2-0 with a two-run shot in the opening frame.

The Lobos added four more runs over the seventh and eighth to pull away after the Falcons responded with a pair in the bottom of the frame, with RHP Tommy White tossing three scoreless innings to keep Air Force at bay down the stretch and earn his first career save as a Lobo.

Oriach (3-for-5, 2 HR, 3 RBI, 3 R) led the way with his second multi-homer game of the season, pushing his season total to 15 – hew. Wood (3-for-5, HR, RBI, 2 R) matched his career high in hits for the second time in three games, while Asby (2-for-4, HR, 2 RBI, 3 R, BB) scored three times and delivered his third straight multi-hit game. Khalil Walker (2-for-5, R) and Luke Mansy (1-for-2, 2B, BB) also chipped in offensively, while Akili Carris (sac fly) and Josh McAlister (RBI single) each drove in key insurance runs late.

On the mound, RHP Cristian Mogen (4.1 IP, 7 H, 4 ER, 2 BB, 3 K) made his sixth start of the season and kept UNM in the game before LHP Presley Monteforte (1.2 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 2 K) came on in relief and earned his second win of the year. White (3.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K) was lights out to slam the door on the Falcons, retiring nine of 10 batters faced to earn his first career save.

This story will be updated.

ON DECK
The Lobos and Falcons meet in Sunday’s rubber match at 12 p.m. MT, with the top spot in the conference standings and postseason seeding on the line. All of this weekend’s series at the Air Force Academy will be available to stream free via the MW Network at GoLobos.com/Watch, 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

ALL-TIME SERIES
• The Lobos now lead the all-time series against Air Force 156-63, with an 90-22 record in matchups in Albuquerque and a 57-37 record on the road. They improve to 3-2 this season against the Falcons.
• In their first three-game series this year at home, the Lobos took the first two games to secure the series but couldn’t complete the sweep in the finale (6-4, 12-7, 1-7). They only faced each other for one weekend series last season, with the Lobos dropping two of three on the road in Colorado Springs (3-12, 6-5, 7-18 [7]).