The University of New Mexico Lobos baseball team returned to Santa Ana Star Field one last time for a fourth matchup in the Rio Grande rivalry against the New Mexico State University Aggies.
Despite the Aggies taking the first three games throughout the season, the Lobos would win the finale on May 12 by a final score of 12-6, sending Lobo fans home happy this time.
This contest saw New Mexico State draw first blood, as Aggies designated hitter Aidan Taclas drove in a run with a double in the first inning, but Lobo starting pitcher Cooper Corkrean hunkered down and held the Aggies to just the one run in that inning. Promptly in the home half with runners at the corners, Lobo third baseman Akili Carris tied the game at 1-1 with a sacrifice fly.
Corkrean kept the Aggies off the board through the middle innings with help in the fourth inning from catcher Brodey Williams, who had one of the most heroic innings a catcher can have. Williams threw out two runners who were trying to steal third base in the top of the fourth inning, and with runners at the corners in the bottom half, he lined a base hit up the middle to give the Lobos the lead.
“That felt great coming through for the guys here one last time — that’s something I’ll remember forever,” Williams, a graduating senior, said.
This lead was short-lived, as the Lobos went to the bullpen in the fifth inning and reliever Ty Cunningham allowed a go-ahead two-run blast to Aggies third baseman Chris Daniels.
However, the Lobos answered back yet again; UNM plated 3 runs of their own in the fifth, highlighted by an error from Aggie right-fielder Easton Rulli and an RBI double from Lobo designated hitter Lenny Junior Ashby.
The Lobos never looked back when they took the lead in the fifth, but it was the bottom of the seventh inning that saw the Lobos truly break the game wide open. The Lobos batted around, bringing 13 men to the plate and 7 of them came around to score. This explosion made it a 12-3 game.
Despite Rulli hitting a 3-run shot to make it 12-6, the Lobo bullpen hung on thanks to a scoreless ninth inning from Lobos reliever Talor Grubbs to take the final game of the regular season from the rival Aggies.
This was the final home game for the graduating seniors on the team, including star outfielder Khalil Walker, the two-time Mountain West batting champion, who went 4/5 with a stolen base in his final home game.
“I have a lot of memories here and it means a lot to finish with a W,” Walker said.
This may have been the final home game for these seniors, but their time in cherry and silver will continue as they look ahead to the Mountain West Tournament, beginning May 21 in Mesa, Arizona.
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“We are going to have to pitch, defend, and score runs to win this tournament so we’re excited to go to Phoenix and give it all we’ve got,” Lobos head coach Tod Brown said.
Marley Herndon is a beat reporter for the Daily Lobo. He can be reached at sports@dailylobo.com or on X @Dailylobo
