Baseball: Lobos fall to Texas Tech at home

On a gusty Tuesday afternoon at Santa Ana Star Field, the ball seemed to be flying. However, things didn’t go the University of New Mexico’s way as they fell to No. 5 Texas Tech 20-9, in a game of offensive firepower.

This marked UNM’s tenth straight loss, which ties for the longest losing streak in Ray Birmingham’s 11 years as head coach of the Lobos.

TTU opened up the game with two runs in the first inning, both of which came on RBI singles to take an early lead. But, in the bottom of the first inning, UNM had an answer for the Red Raiders, as junior Jared Mang was able to notch a two-run double, while his brother, freshman Connor Mang, picked up an RBI after grounding out into a double play in which Jared Mang scored, all but putting the Lobos up 3-2.

That would be UNM’s last lead, as the Red Raiders added another four runs in the third inning and three runs in the fourth inning, while holding UNM to just three runs over that frame, putting TTU up 9-4 early on.

Brian Coffey, a sophomore pitcher for UNM, got the start on the mound, but was taken out in the third inning. He was switched out for sophomore Nathaniel Garley, who gave up three runs on three hits in just 1.2 innings.

In the fifth inning, TTU added another two runs, in the seventh they added one more, and in the final two innings they exploded for another eight runs. Meanwhile, UNM managed to put up a run apiece in the fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh innings, but that wasn’t enough to keep the pace with the Red Raiders.

It was in the bottom of the eighth inning, however, when the Lobos picked up their second multi-run inning, when they scored two more. It was Jared Mang who picked up two RBIs, while also scoring a run, when he homered to right field.

However, TTU, who had 22 total hits, outpaced the Lobos in Albuquerque on its way to a 20-9 victory.

Leading the Lobos at the plate was sophomore Justin Watari who went 4-for-5 with three runs. Jared Mang went 3-for-5 with two runs and five RBIs.

Coffey picked up the loss, putting him at 0–1 on the season.

UNM will host a weekend series against UNLV from Friday, April 20 through Sunday.

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.