ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – New Mexico out-hit Air Force in the final four frames and scored in each of the last three innings, but an early Falcon outburst proved too much to overcome as the Lobos fell 8-4 in Sunday's Senior Day at Lobo Baseball Field.
UNM closes the weekend at 26-20-1 overall and 11-9-1 in Mountain West play.
Air Force jumped in front with a four-run second inning on a grand slam from Garrett Hutchins before adding solo runs in the third and fifth to build a 6-1 lead. The Lobos got on the board in the fourth, with Brodey Williams singling and Antonio Gianni following with a double to set up an RBI groundout from Tristan Russell.
RHP Diego Alvarez (4.2 IP, 5 H, 6 R / 6 ER, 1 BB, 2 K) was tagged for the loss to drop to 1-4, while RHP Josh Barnhouse (2.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K) settled things down with 2 1/3 scoreless frames in relief, retiring seven in a row to close his time on the mound. RHP Talor Grubbs (2 IP, 2 H, 2 R / 1 ER, 0 BB, 2 K) worked the final two innings, with Air Force adding two runs in the ninth to keep the game out of reach.
UNM totaled eight hits for the second day in a row but left nine runners on base, led by Gianni’s 3-for-3 day with two doubles, a walk and an RBI. Akili Carris added a solo homer in the ninth, while Williams, Luke Mansy, Khalil Walker and Lenny Junior Ashby each finished with a hit apiece. Walker doubled and walked, Mansy singled and scored in the eighth and Williams scored the Lobos’ first run in the fourth.
ON DECK
The Lobos hit the road next weekend for their final Mountain West series of the year at Grand Canyon (May 8-10). All of next 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.