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by Connor Gilbert

Lobos Hold Off San Jose State 8-7, Equalize Weekend Series

Lobos Hold Off San Jose State 8-7, Equalize Weekend SeriesLobos Hold Off San Jose State 8-7, Equalize Weekend Series
Box Score

SAN JOSE, Calif. — New Mexico snapped its six-game losing streak Saturday afternoon with an 8-7 win over San Jose State at Excite Ballpark, knotting up the weekend series behind a late offensive surge and another quality start on the bump from RHP Ryan Castillo.

The two teams will square off one more time to decide the weekend series in tomorrow’s rubber match, set for a 1 p.m. MT first pitch.

UNM built a steady lead through the middle innings before breaking the game open with a four-run ninth. Lenny Junior Ashby kicked off the rally with a leadoff home run to right field — his third of the season — before the Lobos capitalized on Spartan errors and timely hits to extend the lead to 8-3.

But San Jose State mounted a dramatic rally in the bottom of the frame, scoring four runs and loading the bases with one out before RHP Luke Wiseman entered and induced a game-ending double play to secure the win and his first save of the season.

A day after being shut out for the first time this season, the Lobos racked up 13 hits in the victory, with Anthony Diaz, Lenny Ashby, Gene Trujillo, Garrett Rede, and Khalil Walker each recording two knocks apiece. Diaz scored a team-high three runs while Walker drove in two, including a key RBI single during the ninth-inning rally.

On the mound, RHP Ryan Castillo earned the win to improve to 4-1, allowing three runs (one earned) over 5 2/3 innings with four strikeouts. The Lobos used four relievers behind him before Wiseman closed the door in the ninth, with RHP Talor Grubbs retiring six in a row across the seventh and eighth innings to keep the Spartans’ bats at bay.

New Mexico struck first in the opening inning on Rede’s RBI single and added another run in the second on Walker’s RBI base hit. The Lobos later scored in the fifth and sixth innings before their decisive final-frame surge proved to be the difference.

THE HIGHLIGHTS

ON DECK
Sunday’s weekend finale is set for a 1 p.m. MT first pitch. All of this weekend’s games will be streamed via the MW Network at GoLobos.com/Watch with live stats available via GoLobos.com/BSBStats. Follow @UNMLoboBaseball on IG, X and Facebook for comprehensive coverage.