Most would say that junior Hayden Schilling was the New Mexico baseball team’s saving grace on Sunday afternoon, but the tide didn't turn the way the Lobos (4-2) would have hoped.
After Schilling tied the game in the top of the 9th on an RBI single, he continued playing the part of hero in the top of the 11th, where drove in a run to give the Lobos their first lead. But Dallas Baptist (5-2) hit a 3-run walk-off homer to grab a win on Sunday afternoon at Horner Field.
Despite the end score, Lobo pitching was on point — especially from starting pitcher Johnathon Tripp, who struck out six while allowing six hits and three runs in his six innings on the mound.
Junior Luis Gonzalez made the most of his time at the plate, going 2-for-2 with one run.
Freshman Beau Capanna also had himself a game, going 2-for-5 with two runs scored.
But Schilling was the catalyst late in the game, going 2-for-2 and racking up two RBI.
Gonzalez — the Lobos’ lead off hitter — reached first on a walk and quickly stole second. He eventually made it to third base on an Andre Gregory groundout, but that's all the Lobos would do in the top of the first.
DBU was able to muster a run in the bottom of the frame via a two-out double that scored the runner from first to give them a 1-0 lead early on.
Again the Patriots were able to put points on the board in the second inning, via a solo blast to center. DBU got a couple more hits after that in the inning, but weren't able to score any further.
Capanna led off the top of the third for New Mexico with a single to left field, and eventually made it to third after a Gonzalez single. Capanna rushed home on a Gregory flyout to center field, which brought the Lobos to within one run of the Patriots.
DBU was able to get one hit in the bottom of the third, but they made the most of it on a Logan Sepanek solo home run to left field to take back a two-run lead against the Lobos, 3-1.
The Lobos got off to a fast start in the top of the fifth after Andre Pratt — who led off the inning — reached first on a wild pitch. Gonzalez then doubled to right field, getting Pratt to third. Another wild pitch on Gregory’s at-bat brought Pratt to home plate, where he was tagged out. The bases were loaded shortly after that when Danny Collier was walked, but the Lobos couldn't produce anything else in the inning, still trailing DBU 3-1.
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After going scoreless since the third inning, DBU was able to muster another solo home run in the bottom of the eighth to grow their lead 4-1.
But the Lobos weren't ready to throw in the towel yet. Instead, they kept fighting.
New Mexico managed to make some noise in the top of the ninth with their backs against the wall. Jared Mang led off the inning with a single to left field, and shortly after Vigil singled to third base, but reached second on a throwing error, while Mang advanced to third.
Austin Bell stepped in to pinch hit for Danny Herrera and filed out to center field, scoring Mang. Then Capanna singled to left field, scoring Vigil to close DBU’s lead to one point.
On the next at-bat, Gonzalez was walked by the Patriots, putting two Lobos on base with one out.
And… a tie.
Hayden Schilling pinched hit for Gregory, driving in a run on an RBI single to the left side to tie the game up at four points a piece. But that's all the Lobos would get.
The Lobos, with the help of Christian Tripp — Johnathon Tripp’s younger brother — closed out the bottom of the ninth in order, forcing extra innings.
It took the Lobos until the 11th inning to get things going on offense, as freshman Robby Campillo doubled to right center to get things started. Campillo eventually reached third base as Capanna grounded out to second. Gonzalez was then intentionally walked with one out, putting Lobos on first and third base.
Schilling came in clutch for the Lobos, this time with an RBI single to score the runner at third and put the Lobos up 5-4 in the top of the eleventh. The Lobos would score once more on a Collier groundout that scored Gonzalez, to ultimately go up 6-4.
In the bottom of the frame, DBU managed to get two runners on first and second before everything fell apart for the Lobos. DBU’s Tim Millard hit a 3-run walk-off home run to give the Patriots the 7-6 win.
The Lobos racked up 10 hits as a team, compared to DBU's 11.
Up next for the Lobos is a game at Texas Tech on Tuesday at 1 p.m. The game will be broadcasted live on air at ESPN Radio 101.7 The TEAM.
Matthew Narvaiz is a sports reporter for the Daily Lobo. He primarily covers women's basketball and baseball. He can be reached at sports@dailylobo.com or on Twitter @matt_narvaiz
