The ranking didn’t matter much to the University of New Mexico baseball team as a go-ahead RBI single in the eighth inning and a steady stream of pitching from the bullpen helped elevate the Lobos to a 5-4 victory over No. 23 San Diego State at Tony Gwynn Stadium.
Sophomore Justin Slaten got the start on the mound for UNM on Thursday afternoon and was dealing early in the game, retiring the first six batters he faced. But in the third inning SDSU was able to get its first run of the game, scoring on a wild pitch to take a 1-0 lead.
UNM quickly gathered its bearings in the top of the fourth inning, countering with two runs of its own. Senior Danny Collier led off the inning with a single and junior Jared Mang drew a walk to get things going. And sophomore Robby Campillo hit an RBI single to bring Collier home.
After the Aztecs recorded the first Lobo out, Jared Mang scored on a passed ball to give UNM a 2-1 lead over San Diego State.
In the bottom of the fifth inning, SDSU stepped on the gas pedal offensively by tacking on three runs to reclaim the lead. The Aztecs benefited from a leadoff walk to start the frame and capped the scoring with an RBI single from senior Chase Calabuig to put his team up 4-2.
Over the next two innings, SDSU was able to keep the Lobos from scoring another run, but UNM broke through again in the top of the eighth inning.
The Aztecs decided to make a pitching change in the previous inning, lifting starter Jacob Erickson with two outs in the top of the seventh after the Lobos put two men and brought the potential go-ahead run to the plate with the score still 4-2.
San Diego State put the ball in hands of reliever Adrian Mardueno, who recorded a strikeout — sitting down Justin Watari in a seven-pitch at-bat to end the threat. But despite getting the Aztecs out of a potential jam, Mardueno was pulled after giving up a base hit to Collier to start the eighth.
Aztec right-hander Jorge Fernandez inherited the situation, but issued a walk to Jared Mang to put men on first and second base with no outs. Robby Campillo tried to advance the runners, but SDSU was able to get the out at third.
It didn’t matter though, as Fernandez walked the next batter to load the bases and would have to hope for a possible double-play ball to get the Aztecs out of trouble once again.
Instead, Connor Mang found the right side of the field to score his brother and Campillo on a two-run single. He was thrown out at second base, but UNM still had pinch runner Brayden Merritt sitting on third base with two outs.
And the next batter, freshman Phillip Sikes, was able to get the go-ahead run home on an RBI-single, scoring Merritt to snag a 5-4 lead.
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While SDSU had bullpen woes, New Mexico got a solid outing from its relievers. Junior righty Malachi Emond pitched a perfect sixth, seventh and eighth inning for the Lobos — not allowing a single hit while recording five strikeouts in the process.
That effort ultimately put Emond in line for the win, elevating his record to 3-1 on the season. Christian Tripp, the Lobos’ primary closer, did just that in the ninth inning as the right-hander closed the door on the Aztecs.
Tripp allowed a hit to start the ninth, but retired three straight to wrap up the final inning as UNM held on for the 5-4 road win.
UNM, as a team, put together a solid offensive outing. Though they had just eight hits, both Collier and Connor Mang each had two hits. The younger Mang had two RBI while Collier scored one of UNM’s runs.
The Lobos still have two more games left against the Aztecs in sunny San Diego, California. Game two will take place on Friday at 7 p.m. as freshman left-hand pitcher Robert Gasser is expected to get the start on the hill for UNM.
Matthew Narvaiz is a senior sports reporter for the Daily Lobo. He primarily covers men’s and women’s basketball, and baseball. He can be reached at sports@dailylobo.com or on Twitter @matt_narvaiz.
