by David J. Chavez
Daily Lobo
The University of New Mexico baseball team was unable to sweep Dallas Baptist University after a dismal offensive display and poor pitching in a 10-2 loss on Saturday.
After winning the first two games of a three-game series, UNM dropped to 17-8 overall, while Dallas Baptist improved to 18-10.
UNM head coach Rich Alday said the team struggled offensively Saturday against a good team.
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"We played really good on Thursday and Friday, and today we just didn't swing the bats well," he said. "Overall, I'm happy with the way we played this weekend, and winning two out of three isn't bad against a good club like Dallas Baptist."
The Lobos won Thursday and Friday in two close games, squeaking by with one-run wins in each contest. The Lobos defeated DBU Thursday night 10-9 in 10 innings. Friday night, UNM won 4-3 in the bottom of the ninth with a hit from sophomore Ian Hollick.
The Lobos got off to a sluggish start Saturday that carried on throughout the game. The Lobos fell behind early when DBU scored two quick runs in the first inning.
Hollick doubled in the second and junior Chris Dabbs drove him home with another double. Freshman Zach Arnett made an attempt to continue the offensive run, but was denied by DBU shortstop Cody Montgomery when he snatched the ball out of the air.
Montgomery hurt UNM on the field and at the plate. In the top of the next inning, Montgomery smashed a home run to left field, adding two runs to the score. In the fifth, he hit an RBI single bringing the score to 5-1.
Sophomore Jordan Pacheco said DBU pitched and hit the ball well, while UNM had a less-than-perfect day in all aspects of the game.
"It was a bad day all around, and things just didn't go our way with our offense not stepping up," he said. "They're a good-hitting ball club and they were getting some good, short hits, and they were also crushing the ball."
Freshman pitcher Chace Lankford took the Lobos to the sixth when he was relieved by Junior Quentin Andes. He completed two scoreless innings allowing three hits and two walks.
DBU cushioned its lead in the eighth, when Montgomery crushed a three-run homer. Evan Bigley followed with a two-run shot of his own, pushing the lead to 10-1.
In the bottom of the ninth, with two outs, freshman Chad Itokazu doubled to give the Lobos their last chance to rally from the nine-run deficit. Hollick stepped to the plate and hit a ball right at pitcher Michael Gardner's foot, sending him to the ground. Itokazu scored easily to make it a 10-2 game, but the Patriots got a quick out on the next play and ended the game.
The Lobo baseball team begins conference play Wednesday against San Diego State in San Diego, Calif., for the Mountain West Conference preseason tournament.
Lankford (4-2) said the pitching staff struggles at times, but is ready to face conference rivals.
"They got some good hits on me today, but I'm also feeling really good with where my pitching is at right now," he said. "I'm confident that the pitching staff will step up and play well against the Mountain West Conference teams."
