The University of New Mexico baseball team extended their winning streak to seven games with an 8-3 win over San Jose State on a sunny Sunday afternoon at Santa Ana Star Field.
Starting pitcher Luis Gonzalez allowed two runs on ten hits, while left fielder Danny Collier paced the Lobo offense with three hits in five at-bats, including a two-run home run in the bottom of the third inning to give UNM the lead.
Collier’s offensive outburst helped secure the sweep for the Lobos, the second sweep in Mountain West Conference play to start the season.
“Any time you can get a conference sweep it is incredible,” Collier said via GoLobos.com “Especially last weekend getting one on the road at Air Force. That was pretty clutch. Then we were able to come home in front of our fans and do it.”
The 6-0 start is the best opening to conference play since the MWC was formed in 2000.
San Jose St. starting pitcher Graham Gomez allowed two earned runs on seven hits over four and two-thirds innings of work. Reliever Jake Swiech was tagged with the loss after giving up four earned runs on five hits after lasting just two-thirds of an inning.
UNM relievers Justin Slaten and Christian Tripp shut down the Spartans with a combined one earned run on five hits over three innings in relief of Gonzalez. The UNM bullpen has been stout in the month of March, posting a combined 1.52 ERA and 17 strikeouts in 23.2 innings dating back to March 4th against Air Force.
The Lobos continue the 2017 regular season with a two-game series against No. 18 Oklahoma St. in Stillwater, OK on Tuesday before heading west to take on Cal State Fullerton in a three-game series over the weekend.