by Kelly Brocklehurst
Daily Lobo
Jeff Grady and Matt Foote had back-to-back home runs in Sunday's doubleheader against the Air Force Falcons. The Lobos went on to sweep the series from the Falcons, winning the first game 18-7 and the second game 12-6.
In the second game, the Falcons took an early lead, scoring five runs. Grady answered with a second-inning blast to left field, bringing in two RBIs.
With two outs on the board in the fifth inning, he hit a two-run homer to right center.
Foote followed with a solo shot to center field, bringing the score to 10-6.
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"I was lucky enough to get pitches to hit," Grady said.
He leads the team with nine home runs.
Grady also hit a double in the first game of the doubleheader. The Lobos collected 24 hits in that game.
In the fourth inning, Foote singled and scored when Jordan Pacheco hit a double to right field. Chris Carlson hit his seventh round-tripper of the year for two more runs.
The Lobos kept swinging away in the sixth. Daniel Stovall, Jay Russell and Tim Grady each singled to set the table for RBI slaps from Jeff Grady, Pacheco and Garrick Haymore.
Ian Hollick added a three-run home run to left field in the eighth.
The Falcons dropped to 0-11 in conference play. The Lobos are 8-6 in conference play.
"We needed to come out here and get a sweep," Foote said.
In Game 2, the Lobos continued raining hits on the Falcons. UNM collected 15 hits and 12 runs, despite the Falcons' early lead.
Haymore hit a triple in the fourth inning and scored on a throwing error. UNM rallied in the fifth inning to win the game.
Despite their opponent's lousy record, the Lobos - who sit in third place now with a 9-6 Mountain West Conference record - have to take every team seriously heading into the season's stretch run.
"They've been struggling the past few years, but they scare us," Jeff Grady said of the Falcons. "They can bite you if you let them."
UNM's defense was as good as its offense. The Lobos only committed three errors in both games.
Junior pitcher Darren Coltrinari struck out six batters and allowed six runs on nine hits.
Sophomore Danny Ray Herrera struck out four batters and allowed six hits and four runs.
Herrera improved to 5-2 on the season. Coltrinari is 6-2.
The Lobos play the University of Arizona Wildcats Tuesday. The game is scheduled to start at 5 p.m.
