by Matthew Kappus
Daily Lobo
After an offensive showcase through two games, the Lobos' bats went cold Sunday.
The UNM baseball team ended its three-game winning streak with an 11-4 loss to Texas State at Isotopes Park.
The 6-7 Lobos needed a win Sunday to get their record above .500, but nine hits in the game were not enough to top the Bobcats.
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UNM's win streak included a 16-5 victory against NMSU on Tuesday and wins of 10-0 on Friday and 13-7 on Saturday against Texas State.
UNM head coach Rich Alday said the young team's unpredictability prevented the Lobos from earning a sweep.
"You don't know what 18-, 19-year-old kids are going to do,"
he said.
Junior Jacob Norton started on the mound for UNM.
Norton, who came into Sunday's game with a 4.96 ERA, ran into early trouble against the Bobcats, allowing five runs in the first three innings, including four in
the third.
After balking a run to third base, Alday called it a day for Norton in the fourth inning.
Sunday's loss drops Norton's record to 0-3 this year.
Freshman Jarrad Watkins took over for Norton in the top of the fourth with a 6-1 deficit, but Bobcat David Wood made sure the Lobos' relief wouldn't
be successful.
With the score at 1-1 at the top of the second, Wood knocked a triple into center field that brought in a runner.
Texas State was in the driver's seat the rest of the game. Wood finished 3-for-5 at the plate, including two RBIs and a home run.
With the Lobo pitching staff giving up hits, the fielders saw a lot of action Sunday.
Matt Foote came up with an amazing grab in the fifth inning, robbing Texas State's Thomas Field of a double. The catch was an important one, denying two or more runs to the Bobcats, who already led 5-1.
The Lobos had several chances to get back into the game. Adam Courcha had a clutch hit in the fifth. His double brought two Lobos across the plate and cut the Bobcats' lead to 7-4.
However, a ground out brought the comeback to a halt and left three runners stranded.
In addition to the offensive struggles Sunday, the Lobos struggled from the mound, Alday said.
"We didn't do well with our pitching," he said. "We kept the balls a little up. You can't do that."
Baseball vs.
Texas Tech
Tuesday, 3 p.m.
Isotopes Park
