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by Connor Gilbert

Lobos Surge Late, Even Weekend Series with 4-3 Win at WSU

Lobos Surge Late, Even Weekend Series with 4-3 Win at WSULobos Surge Late, Even Weekend Series with 4-3 Win at WSU
Box Score

PULLMAN, Wash. – New Mexico evened its weekend series with Washington State at a game apiece with a 4-3 win on Saturday night at Bailey-Brayton Field, using timely late-inning hitting and shutdown relief pitching to hold off the Cougars late and force a Sunday rubber match.

After falling behind early and picking up just one hit over the first four innings, the Lobos (25-16, 10-6-1 MW) scored all four runs in the final four frames, getting on the board with a solo homer from Gene Trujillo in the sixth before taking control with a two-run seventh on RBI groundout from Khalil Walker and an RBI single from Anthony Diaz. Washington State briefly tied it in the bottom half of the sixth with a solo shot of their own, but UNM answered again in the top of the ninth as Lenny Junior Ashby delivered the go-ahead RBI single to score Diaz. 

At 10-6-1 in conference, the Lobos remain just half a game behind Nevada and Air Force -- both 11-6 in MW play -- in the league standings.

On the mound, RHP Ryan Castillo (6.0 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 4 BB, 4 K) kept the Lobos within striking distance before the bullpen took over, minimizing the damage from five WSU hits and four walks. RHP Josh Barnhouse tossed a 1-2-3 seventh to keep the momentum and LHP Cooper Corkrean (2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K) shut the door over the final two innings to earn the win and strand the bases loaded. 

Corkrean improves to an unblemished 6-0 in games of record on the season in his first year as Lobo.

At the plate, the Lobos pieced together nine hits with contributions throughout the lineup. Khalil Walker led the way with a 2-for-4 night that included a double and an RBI, while Anthony Diaz reached twice and drove in a run. Gene Trujillo supplied the biggest swing of the night with his solo homer -- his fifth bomb of the year -- and finished with an RBI, and Ashby added a hit and the game-winning RBI in the ninth. Karsen Waslefsky, Luke Mansy, Akili Carris and Brodey Williams each chipped in a hit as well, with Carris also scoring a run and sparking the two-run seventh. 

ON DECK
The Lobos will get a chance to secure the weekend series in tomorrow’s rubber match, with first pitch set for 1 p.m. MT. All of this weekend's series 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.