ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Down 5-0 heading into the bottom of the second and staring down a three-game sweep at the hands of first-place Nevada, New Mexico rallied for nine runs over the next three frames to secure a pivotal 9-7 win in Sunday’s weekend finale at Lobo Baseball Field.
With the win, the Lobos (23-15-1, 9-5-1 MW) moved back within a half game of the first-place Wolf Pack (21-15, 10-5 MW) in the Mountain West race and snapped a three-game skid.
UNM scored two runs in the second and another in the third before taking control with six in the third – the Lobos held the Wolf Pack to just one run over the final five frames after taking the lead.
In his first start since March 22, Garrett Rede came up with a hit in each of his first three plate appearances, scoring two runs and driving in two more with a two-out single in the fourth that proved to be the difference down the stretch. After scoring four runs in the previous 18 innings combined, the Lobos plated nine on 10 hits on Sunday, with Anthony Diaz (2-for-4, 1 RBI, 1 BB), Karsen Waslefsky (1 H, 1 R, 1 RBI), Lenny Junior Ashby (HR, 2 R, 1 RBI), Luke Mansy (HR, 1 R, 2 RBI), Caleb Herd (3B, 1 R, 1 RBI) and Khalil Walker (2B, 1 R, 1 RBI) all contributing.
Ashby’s solo homer was his team-leading sixth of the year, while Mansy’s was his fifth.
RHP Diego Alvarez (2 IP, 7 H, 5 R / 5 ER, 0 BB, 1 K) took a beating in the first two frames before LHP Cooper Corkrean (5 IP, 2 H, 2 R / 2 ER, 1 BB, 3 K) reset the tone with five frames of solid relief to earn the win and improve to 5-0 on the season. RHP Luke Wiseman (1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K) and RHP Talor Grubbs (1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K) worked scoreless frames in the eighth and ninth to keep the lead intact, with Grubbs getting his fourth save of the season in the process.
ON DECK
The Lobos remain home for a Tuesday matchup with D-II CSU Pueblo, with first pitch slated for 6 p.m. MT. Tuesday’s game will be available to stream via the MW Network at GoLobos.com/Watch, with live stats available at GoLobos.com/BSBStats. Follow @UNMLoboBaseball on IG, X and Facebook for comprehensive coverage.