Lobos Downed by Fresno in Opener, 7-5
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – New Mexico dropped a tightly contested series opener to Fresno State on Thursday night at Santa Ana Star Field, falling 7-5 despite a two-homer, four-RBI game from senior Ethan Ott and a go-ahead four-run fifth inning that briefly put the Lobos in front.
Despite the loss, the Lobos (29-21, 16-12 MW) remain in the thick of the Mountain West title race, now one game behind the Bulldogs (27-26, 17-11 MW) in contention for a bye heading into next week’s Mountain West Championship at Sloan Park in Mesa, Ariz. They can still secure the No. 2 seed in the tournament if they win the final two games of the series, but they need Nevada (31-20, 18-10) to lose both of their next two games to share a MW title.
Ott (2-for-4, 2 HR, 4 RBI) belted solo shots in the fourth and fifth innings for his 13th and 14th home runs of the season – his second multi-homer game in the last month – while Tye Wood (2-for-4, 2 2B, R) doubled twice and posted his ninth multi-hit game in his last 11. Will Asby (1-for-4, HR, RBI, BB) added an RBI single in the fifth as part of a four-run frame, and Josh McAlister (1-for-4, 2B) also doubled and scored.
On the mound, Daxton Purser (5.2 IP, 7 H, 6 ER, 2 BB, 7 K) struck out seven but was tagged for a go-ahead three-run homer in the sixth that swung momentum back in Fresno State’s favor. Relievers Josh Barnhouse (2.2 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 2 K) and Luke Wiseman (0.2 IP) kept things close down the stretch, but the Lobos couldn’t plate a run in response with five baserunners over the final three frames.
ON DECK
Game Two of the regular-season finale between New Mexico and Fresno State is set for Friday at 2 p.m. MT at Santa Ana Star Field. All of this weekend’s series at Santa Ana Star Field 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.