Luis Gonzalez did it all for the Lobos on Sunday afternoon — pitching brilliantly and nearly hitting for the cycle.
The junior outfielder/pitcher got the start on the mound for New Mexico (28-20-1, 18-4-1 MW) as well as playing the part of designated hitter on offense, leading the Lobos to an 11-6 win and picking up the series victory over Air Force.
Not only did Gonzalez go seven strong innings on the mound — allowing six runs on 11 hits, striking out six and walking one — he paced the Lobos’ offense with a near-perfect performance, going 3-for-4 with three runs and three RBI's.
Gonzalez singled, doubled and hit a home run, finishing a triple shy of the cycle.
UNM head coach Ray Birmingham said he was impressed with his star player’s hitting performance, though more so with his pitching efforts.
“He was the player of the game, that’s for sure,” Birmingham said. “He was able to throw his curveball for a strike, so that was big. (Air Force) wants to drive the ball the other way and jump on those early fastballs, and Luis was able to keep them off balance.”
UNM tallied 12 hits as a team during the game. Redshirt junior Danny Collier had a three-hit game as well, adding two RBI's and two runs scored to his stat line.
The Lobos continued to crush the ball out of the park, with two of the 12 hits being home runs. Gonzalez went yard in the third inning, and freshman catcher Robby Campillo hit one over the wall to left center, the first of his Lobo career.
Air Force (24-22, 11-15 MW) started the scoring in the top of the second to grab a quick 1-0 lead. However, the Lobos answered immediately by tying the game with Collier reaching home plate on a wild pitch to tie the game up in the bottom of the frame.
After Gonzalez held the Falcons scoreless in the top of the third in a well-pitched inning, though he did hit a batter, he led off with a solo shot to center field to put the Lobos up 2-1.
But Air Force didn't back down either, responding with a four-run fourth inning and shutting the Lobos down in the bottom half to seize a 5-2 advantage.
The Lobos flipped the script on Air Force in the fifth inning, holding the Falcons’ offense scoreless in the frame, and then adding a five-spot in their half of the inning. The UNM fifth was highlighted by Campillo’s lead-off homer, which helped New Mexico reclaim the lead and move ahead 7-5.
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New Mexico never relinquished the lead and continued to add more run support on offense. The Lobos score two runs in the sixth, one in the seventh and one in the eighth to maintain control.
Air Force was never able to mount a comeback, scraping together just one more run in the seventh, as the Lobos coasted to an 11-6 victory.
Up next for the Lobos is a three-game series at Fresno State, a conference team they have won a series over earlier in the season. Game one of that series will take place on Friday, May 12 at 7:05 p.m. The game will be streamed live on the Mountain West Network.
Matthew Narvaiz is a sports reporter for the Daily Lobo. He primarily covers baseball and women’s basketball. He can be reached at sports@dailylobo.com or on Twitter @matt_narvaiz.
