Playing on the road at New Mexico State, and starting nine freshmen in the process, didn’t work out in the University of New Mexico baseball team’s favor. Instead, the veteran-laced Aggies trampled the Lobos 13-2 on Tuesday evening in Las Cruces.
This was the second matchup between the two teams, with NMSU winning both contests. With the loss, UNM dropped its record to 15-28-1 overall, while the Aggies are now 29-16 overall.
NMSU got out to a quick start, scoring a run in the first inning. With two outs, NMSU was able to get an RBI single to take the first lead of the game. Freshman Robert Gasser, UNM’s starting pitcher on Tuesday, was able to hold NMSU scoreless in the second.
But it was in the third inning that NMSU was able to notch another three runs to make it 4-0 in favor of the home team.
UNM didn’t score a run until the top of the fourth inning when an Aggie error allowed freshman Phillip Sykes to cross home plate and trim the lead to 4-1. But UNM’s run didn’t matter much, as the Aggies added another four runs in the bottom of the frame to take a commanding 8-1 lead.
NMSU then added another five runs in the fifth to make it 13-1, before the Lobos got a run in the top of the seventh inning.
UNM, however, was able to get seven hits, with freshman Connor Mang leading the way as he went 2-for-4. Sikes and sophomore Justin Watari scored the two Lobo runs, and freshman Brayden Merritt picked up an RBI.
The loss was ultimately tacked onto Harrington’s stat line, putting him at 0-4 on the season. He pitched just one inning—the third—and three earned runs and one hit.
UNM will head back to the friendly confines of Santa Ana Star Field to take on conference rival San Diego State in a three game set over the weekend. Game 1 of that series is slated for 6:30 p.m. on Friday, May 4.
Matthew Narvaiz is a senior sports reporter for the Daily Lobo. He primarily covers men’s and women’s basketball, and baseball. He can be reached at sports@dailylobo.com or on Twitter @matt_narvaiz.
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