The Lobos have dropped a game here and there, which is expected during the course of a long season. But forgoing a series has been a rarity.
For just the second time all season, the Lobos faltered a three-game matchup with an opponent. Saturday’s 7-4 loss to ASU guaranteed their first series loss since UNM played Dallas Baptist in early March.
Despite the loss, senior right hander Taylor Duree joined the UNM record books with his 76th career appearance, more than any other pitcher in New Mexico history.
The mark was overshadowed by the Lobos digging themselves into a deep hole for the second straight day.
Arizona State started things off in the early going plating two runs in the third inning after Ryan Lillard found a hole on the right side of the infield to put the Sun Devils (25-15) on the board first. Not even a full at-bat later ASU put on the double steal to move Lillard over to second, giving David Greer the tough task of swiping home plate.
UNM’s troubles did not end at a 2-0 disadvantage. The Sun Devil offense put together another rally as Colby Woodmansee added a couple more RBIs to his stat line after plating three runners in the opening contest on Friday night.
The quiet Lobo bats finally added some pop to the game in the seventh inning on a Dalton Bowers single to left, but that was all the Lobos could do in the seventh with prime real estate on the bases. Both Bowers and Andre Pratt were left stranded in scoring position.
Andrew Shaps for ASU answered the one run frame with an RBI single which perfected his day going 3-for-3 at the dish.
Junior DH Chris DeVito continued his monster year with his 12th longball of the season. It was the first home run DeVito got ahold of since April 10, when he jacked three in one game.
However, the 6-2 hole was still too much as the Sun Devils tallied yet another run in the bottom of the eighth forcing an improbable comeback for UNM (30-15, 16-5 MW).
DeVito was able to bring in two more runs in the top of the ninth reaching on a fielding error by ASU’s left fielder Daniel Williams. He wasn’t credited with another RBI despite scoring both Jared Holley and Andre Pratt.
Duree’s perfect outing in the ninth inning was not enough for the senior out of the bullpen to finish out the eighth, but he will have something to put on his mantel when the Albuquerque native returns home.
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UNM and ASU (25-15) will face off one more time on Sunday at 1:30 p.m. as the non-conference series comes to a close.
Liam Cary-Eaves is the sports editor for the Daily Lobo. He primarily covers volleyball, women’s basketball and baseball. He can be reached at sports@dailylobo.com or on Twitter @Liam_CE.
