Two freshman utility players led the Lobos through an unscathed ending despite UNM’s rocky start. Hayden Schilling and Luis Gonzalez helped shut down Texas Tech’s offense in the final three innings of play, pitching scoreless relief efforts.
“These freshmen did a good job against a very good baseball team,” head coach Ray Birmingham said. “This is a young ball club that is only going to get better and better.”
New Mexico turned to Chris DeVito, another underclassman, to push the squad past Texas Tech late in the ballgame. The sophomore produced an opposite field two-run homer in the bottom of the sixth for the game’s final runs.
DeVito said he didn’t think his homer to left field was going to be enough for the Lobos against Texas Tech.
“I thought they were going to put up a couple more,” DeVito said. “Our pitchers did a great job and I’m just glad we got the win today.”
DeVito ended his Tuesday afternoon going 4-for-4 from the plate with three runs batted in. The only time the first baseman scored was following his homer in the sixth inning.
The Lobos started slowly, falling into a 4-0 hole early, which forced junior right-handed starter Drew Bridges out after throwing 63 pitches. Bridges’ first two innings of scoreless pitching gave Birmingham some confidence in the junior pitcher, but the rocky third inning required the head coach to pull the plug.
“He looked like he was going to get it and then after the homer, he pretty much had a meltdown,” Birmingham said. “This baseball team sure needs him to get it.”
UNM’s bats came alive to back up the third, plating four runners and having nine batters come up in the fourth.
Texas Tech scored one more time in the fifth inning on an RBI double from right fielder Anthony Lyons.
The Lobos didn’t surrender and a two-run blast from DeVito was all the run support New Mexico needed to finish the game.
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“We’re working on fighting back,” DeVito said. “A lot of the times we haven’t fought back this season, but now we’re getting a little better at it.”
Birmingham spoke highly of the victory over UNM’s ranked opponent and said his young group is starting to mesh.
New Mexico has now walked away with two wins in the only times the clubs will face off in the regular season. The Red Raiders are coming off last year’s season that put them in the final eight teams of the College World Series in Omaha, Nebraska.
“That’s an Omaha baseball team right there,” Birmingham said. “I can’t say enough about the gelling and starting to come together (of this team).”
Liam Cary-Eaves is the assistant sports editor for the Daily Lobo. He can be reached at assistantsports@dailylobo.com or on Twitter @Liam_CE.
