Despite an early lead, the Lobo baseball team could not overcome a 9-2 deficit in Sunday's game against Texas State. The loss puts UNM at a 4-6 record for the season.
"We kind of came out flat," junior catcher Carlos Castillo said.
The Lobos scored two runs early in the game. One of the runs came from Castillo, who hit his first career home run as a Lobo.
Texas tied the game in the fifth inning and took the lead with five runs in the seventh.
UNM pitcher Darren Coltrinari pitched four solid innings. He gave up two doubles and a single in the fifth and two singles in the sixth.
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In the seventh inning, senior Petr Pacas came in as a relief pitcher after Coltrinari gave up a double and hit Bobcat catcher Doug Pearce.
Pacas walked the first batter he faced, loading the bases for Texas State. He then gave up a grand slam to left fielder Elliot Babcock. After Babcock's grand slam, head coach Rich Alday brought in left-handed pitcher Jackie Smith.
Smith gave up a single and committed a throwing error to first base, allowing Luke Cannon to reach second base. Kyle Anson scored on the play.
The Lobos' strong defense wasn't enough to overcome their underwhelming pitching. In the fifth inning, third baseman Jay Russell (1-for-4), second baseman Jordan Pacheco (1-for-4) and first baseman Daniel Stovall (0-for-4) completed a double play. Russell and Stovall completed a second double play in the ninth inning.
The Lobos recorded their first out of the ninth inning when Heath Keel came in to pinch hit for Jared Bunn. Keel hit the ball down the third-base line and thinking he had fouled the ball, he did not run toward first base. Russell dove for it, and after the umpire said the ball was fair, Keel started running toward first, only to be thrown out.
Offensively, the Lobos did not perform well.
"We didn't have a good plan at the plate," Alday said.
The Lobos only had five hits, including Castillo's home run in the second inning.
"I was happy at the time, but it would have been better if we could have come out with a win," Castillo said.
In the third inning, Stovall grounded into double play. Castillo was called out on the play.
"We just didn't get it done," Alday said. "Hopefully, we'll get some things turned around."
