Despite keeping the Sun Devils from rounding the bases for six innings, the baseball team still lost to Arizona State University 3-1 at Isotopes Park on Tuesday.
Lobo pitcher Sam Wolff pitched a shutout until the ASU second baseman smacked the ball deep into left field for a two-run homer in the sixth inning.
Even though Wolff got the loss, bringing his record to 0-2, he pitched his best game of the season. He struck out five batters and allowed four hits.
“My mindset was different going into tonight,” Wolff said. “I felt a little more confident out there and I was able to throw my stuff for strikes.”
Head coach Ray Birmingham said he has seen a lot of improvement in Wolff.
“Wolff was outstanding,” Birmingham said. “He’s figured it out. We made a couple of adjustments while we were at Air Force.”
Pitcher Will Mathis came in to relieve Wolff in the seventh inning. He struck out six batters, allowed three hits and gave up one more run.
“Will Mathis did a great job,” Birmingham said. “I think our pitching staff is coming together, which is encouraging because that’s what we have to have to get, to get to our third regional in a row.”
The Lobos weren’t the only ones throwing strikes. ASU pitcher Alex Blackford struck out five Lobos, allowed only three hits and gave up only one run.
The game was scoreless until the fifth inning. Mitchell Garver hit a triple and three batters. Later, short stop Alex Allbritton batted him in with a sacrifice fly to left field.
In the ninth inning, ASU left fielder James McDonald scored when he stole home after a wild pitch by Mathis, bringing the score to 3-1. ASU pitcher Jake Barrett ended any hopes of a comeback by striking out three Lobos, sealing the victory for the Sun Devils.
The Lobos went error-less.
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“Blackford did a good job keeping us off balance,” UNM catcher Mitchell Garver said. “On the other side, Sam Wolff did an excellent job, too. I’d say it was a very even game. It was well pitched.”
The Lobos are 0-5 in games played on Tuesday this season. Despite losing a close game to the Sun Devils, the players kept their heads up after the loss.
“We haven’t been too hot on midweeks, but I think we showed a lot of heart,” Garver said. “The way that we played is encouraging as we enter conference play.”
Despite the team’s losing record (15-17), Birmingham said the team could earn national recognition.
“UNM and ASU are very comparable now,” Birmingham said. “That’s what I came here to do. Now ASU wants to play us on a regular basis. The University of New Mexico has moved into a higher echelon and we can compete with anybody.”
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