PHOENIX, Ariz. – New Mexico jumped ahead early but couldn’t find a response in extra innings as the Lobos fell 6-5 to Grand Canyon in their weekend series opener Friday night at Brazell Field.
With San Jose State’s loss to San Diego State on Friday night, the Lobos can clinch their third-straight MW Tournament appearance with two wins this weekend – but they’ll need to win tomorrow’s Game Two, set for an 8 p.m. MT first pitch.
After going three-and-out in the opening frame, the Lobos jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the second with a pair of clutch two-out hits – an RBI base knock from Brodey Williams followed by a three-run homer from Karsen Waslefsky for his team-leading sixth big fly of the year.
6th 𝗪𝗔𝗭 💣 of the year!
— UNM Baseball (@UNMLoboBaseball) May 9, 2026
T2 | Lobos 4, GCU 0 pic.twitter.com/Ru5iAehr2q
All in all, UNM finished with nine hits, with Brodey Williams (1 R, 1 RBI) and Khalil Walker both singling twice to lead the way while Anthony Diaz (1 R), Luke Mansy (1 R), Gene Trujillo (1 R, 1 BB) and Karsen Waslefsky (HR, 3 RBI) all adding a hit each.
Meanwhile, RHP Cristian Mogen worked around six GCU hits in the first three frames to keep things tight, allowing only two earned runs in 7 ⅓ innings of work and finishing with five strikeouts and no walks as he retired eight of the last nine he faced before exiting the game.
The Lobos got back on the board with two more two-out knocks in the seventh, with Anthony Diaz and Khalil Walker both singling in succession and Diaz hustling home on a throwing error to make it a 5-2 ballgame.
T7 | Lobos 5, GCU 2@khalilwalker05 goes up the middle and @Anthony_diaz05 hurries home to get us back on the board! pic.twitter.com/y9DktsSeo8
— UNM Baseball (@UNMLoboBaseball) May 9, 2026
LHP Cooper Corkrean took over on the bump with one out on the board in the seventh, inducing a pair of flyouts but allowing a two-run homer that cut the deficit to just one run. After the Lobos came up empty in the top of the eighth, the lefty calmed things down with 1-2-3 bottom of the inning, punctuated by a swinging strikeout on a full count.
Still working with just a one-run cushion in the bottom of the ninth, Corkrean opened with a strikeout but gave up the tying run on back-to-back base hits, with the Lobos avoiding a walkoff with a 4-2-3 double play that ended the inning and forced extras.
Walker opened the 10th with a leadoff single but the Lobos hit into a double play to halt the advance, with the Lopes scoring the winning run on a solo homer that walked the Lobos off.
ON DECK
Tomorrow’s Game Two is set for an 8 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.