ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – New Mexico’s unbeaten start is still rolling.
New Mexico (9-0) shook off an early deficit with a six-run second inning and leaned on a dominant late relief effort from Josh Barnhouse to secure an 11-6 win over St. Thomas (2-6) on Friday afternoon at Lobo Baseball Field, improving to 9-0 on the season.
The Tommies struck first with single runs in the first and second innings, capitalizing on four early hits to take a 2-0 lead. But the Lobos flipped the game in the bottom of the second in dramatic fashion.
After Luke Mansy reached on a throwing error and advanced on another miscue, Caleb Herd’s RBI single put UNM on the board. Karsen Waslefsky followed with a base hit, and Khalil Walker reached on an outfield error that brought home the tying run. Anthony Diaz then laced a ground-rule double to center, driving in two more, and Aidan Kuni added an RBI double of his own to extend the lead. Moments later, Kuni was replaced by Damian Garcia after suffering an injury on the play. Garcia would score on Gene Trujillo’s RBI double as the Lobos sent 10 men to the plate and scored six runs — five unearned — in the frame.
UNM added a run in the third on Walker’s RBI groundout and another in the fourth on Lenny Ashby’s solo home run to right.
ASHBY ROCKET 🚀
— UNM Baseball (@UNMLoboBaseball) February 27, 2026
His second HR of the year extends the lead to 8-2! pic.twitter.com/scNVBTYYlO
St. Thomas cut into the margin with a two-run fifth and two more in the seventh, trimming the lead to 10-6 -- but the Lobos answered once more. Garcia, who entered in the second, provided a key insurance run with a solo homer to deep right in the seventh — his first of the season.
Damian 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝗼𝗼𝗻 🌕
— UNM Baseball (@UNMLoboBaseball) February 27, 2026
His first HR of the year! pic.twitter.com/tcPX1vwud7
On the mound, RHP Cristian Mogen (2-0) worked 4.1 innings and struck out six to earn the win before RHP Ty Cunningham bridged the middle frames. Barnhouse then took over in the eighth and slammed the door.
The senior right-hander struck out four over two scoreless innings, including three consecutive punchouts spanning the eighth and ninth, to extinguish any remaining threat. He retired the side in order in the ninth, finishing the game with back-to-back strikeouts to secure the victory. Of his 23 pitches, 19 were strikes.
3 strikeouts in a row for @JoshBarnhouse! pic.twitter.com/jBXfYxQbLs
— UNM Baseball (@UNMLoboBaseball) February 28, 2026
Diaz finished with a double and two RBI, Herd drove in two, and Trujillo added an RBI double as part of an 11-hit attack. Though St. Thomas outhit UNM 15-11, the Tommies committed four errors and stranded 13 runners, while the Lobos capitalized on their opportunities and remained unbeaten through nine games.
ON DECK
The Lobos return for a doubleheader on Saturday, with the first game set for 12 p.m. MT and the second getting underway roughly 45 minutes following. Saturday's games will not be available to stream, with live stats available via GoLobos.com/BSBStats. Follow @UNMLoboBaseball on IG, X and Facebook for comprehensive coverage, promotional updates, behind-the-scenes content and more.