The Lobos returned to Santa Ana Star field after their weekend series win against the University of Nevada, Las Vegas for a rematch with the Texas Tech University Red Raiders who run-ruled them the last time these teams matched up and ultimately crushed the Lobos again, 10-5.
The game began with Ethin Woltz, the first of 10 pitchers the Lobos threw in this bullpen game, spinning two scoreless innings while Lobos designated hitter Damian Garcia started scoring with a sacrifice fly in the first.
The Lobos would tack on two more in the second inning, taking advantage of some early bad defense from Texas Tech. An infield hit, followed by an error, cracked the door open for the Lobos and they took advantage to make it 3-0 through three innings.
The Red Raiders were able to scratch across a run against reliever Tommy White, but the wheels didn’t fall off for the Lobos until the fifth inning when Seth Edgerton came into the game and after left fielder Antonio Gianni misjudged a ball in the wind, leading to a double that sparked life into the Texas Tech dugout. This spiraled on Edgerton, who couldn’t record an out and allowed two runs that tied the game.
This inning showed one of the disadvantages of bullpen games; if one reliever doesn’t have it that day, the entire tempo of the game, and with it the momentum, can shift. Edgerton wasn’t the only reliever who didn't bring his best in this game, as there would ultimately be 10 unanswered runs allowed by Lobos pitching staff.
“We had two of our best relievers in the eighth and the ninth and they gave up 6 of the 10 runs. That’s disappointing, but these guys have been getting the job done for us on weekends, and I think this is ultimately a good learning lesson for them,” Lobo Head Coach Tod Brown said.
The Lobo bats would wake up in the ninth inning to make it interesting, plating 2 runs but ultimately, the 7-run deficit proved to be too much to overcome as Red Raider reliever Jesse Rusinek hunkered down and struck out first baseman Gene Trujillo with the bases loaded to end the game and hand UNM a 10-5 loss.
“The way we played today can’t win Mountain West games, but it’s not how we played against UNLV so we just have to wait and see what happens on Friday, but if we play like we’re capable of we’re going to be just fine,” Brown said.
Elizabeth Bolke is a freelance reporter for the Daily Lobo. She can be reached at sports@dailylobo.com or on X @dailylobo
Marley Herndon is a beat reporter for the Daily Lobo. He can be reached at sports@dailylobo.com or on X @Dailylobo
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