ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – New Mexico absorbed an early blow from first-place Air Force and controlled the rest of the way en route to a 9-7 series-opening win over the first-place Falcons Friday evening at Lobo Baseball Field.
After Air Force responded to a two-run opening frame for the Lobos with five runs in the top of the second, UNM outscored the Falcons 6-2 over the next two frames to take the lead and blanked them over the final five frames to snap a two-game skid.
That's the ball game!
— UNM Baseball (@UNMLoboBaseball) May 2, 2026
FINAL | Lobos 9, Air Force 7 pic.twitter.com/NgHJj9rPiU
The Lobos rapped out six hits in a row to open the bottom of the third to get back within one and picked up five more in the fourth as they retook the lead. Akili Carris (4-for-5) picked up hits in each of his first four at-bats – with a double and a triple – as he finished a homer shy of the cycle for the second game in a row to lead a season-high 18-hit night for UNM. He’s now hit safely in 10 of his last 15 AB’s with two doubles and two triples in that span.
In addition to Carris’ big night, Luke Mansy (1 RBI) and Antonio Gianni both went 3-for-5 – both their second multi-hit games in a row and career-highs. Gene Trujillo also added a multi-hit day, going 2-for-4 with a double, two runs scored and an RBI, while Brodey Williams reached base four times with a 2-for-3 line and two walks.
Khalil Walker drove in a team-high three runs despite just one hit, drawing a pair of walks and adding a sacrifice fly and Karsen Waslefsky drove in two more on a single and a sac fly of his own. Anthony Diaz and Lenny Ashby each chipped in a knock apiece, with Ashby also driving in a run and Diaz working a walk as the Lobos pieced together one of their most balanced offensive performances of the season.
BACK IN FRONT!
— UNM Baseball (@UNMLoboBaseball) May 2, 2026
B4 | Lobos 8, Air Force 7 pic.twitter.com/AWiwYBPPiM
RHP Ethin Woltz (3.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R / 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 K) picked up RHP Cristian Mogen (3 IP, 7 H, 7 R / 6 ER, 4 BB, 2 K) after a rough start to earn the win and improve to 2-2 on the season, settling things down with three frames of relief without being tagged for an earned run. LHP Cooper Corkrean (2.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K) put up three more zeroes on the board to earn his third save of the year.
Woltzy opening T5 with a K! pic.twitter.com/D4i5P379VX
— UNM Baseball (@UNMLoboBaseball) May 2, 2026
ON DECK
The Lobos (26-18-1, 10-7-1 MW) get an opportunity to secure a pivotal series win in Saturday’s Game Two, set for a 2 p.m. MT first pitch. All of this weekend's series will be free 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.