by Kelly Brocklehurst
Daily Lobo
The No. 5 Wildcats were hot on the mound and at the plate.
The Lobo pitching staff gave up six home runs during Tuesday night's game against Arizona. UNM lost the game, 14-3.
The Lobos' bats couldn't overcome the deficit they faced early in the game.
"We didn't come through in situations we needed to," sophomore center fielder Matt Foote said.
The Lobos had eight hits. Ryan Barba had a triple in the third inning, and Ian Hollick tripled in the sixth inning to plate Tim Grady.
In the sixth inning, shortstop Barba grounded into double play, ending a rally attempt. After Garrick Haymore, who leads the nation in triples, walked, Chris Carlson singled, bringing in the Lobo's second run.
The Lobos also stranded eight men.
"I left a couple of runners on base, but overall, we swung OK," Foote said.
In addition to a weak offense, the Lobos' defense was not as strong as it had been in recent games. The infield and outfield struggled to make the plays they needed. In the third inning, a fly ball dropped in right field after three players tried to catch it.
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In addition, Foote said he struggled to make plays in center field.
"I thought I should have come up with the ball in center field," he said. "It kind of got over my head."
Foote also said the outfield struggled because of miscues and a lack of communication.
The pitching staff also faltered. Karsten Gaarder gave up 11 hits before Jesse Perez relieved him in the fourth inning.
Gaarder took the loss for UNM.
The Wildcats had 18 hits in the game. Six of their runs came in the second inning.
Leadoff hitter Trevor Crowe, a preseason All-American hit two home runs against the Lobos. The first came in the first inning, and the second was in the seventh.
The Wildcats also had seven doubles and a triple.
The Lobos, who are now 19-19 overall, have not won a game against the Wildcats since 1997.
The Wildcats swept the Lobos in February, but Foote said playing them was good preparation for next weekend's series against UNLV.
"It helps to have good competition," he said. "They have some good pitching, and UNLV has a few good pitchers, so this will help us."
Barba and outfielder Carlson each went 2-4.
