Carl Stajduhar launched a go-ahead three-run home run in the bottom of the sixth inning to give the University of New Mexico Lobos a three-game sweep of visiting UNLV at Santa Ana Star Field on Sunday afternoon.
With the win and series sweep of the Rebels, the Lobos stay atop the Mountain West Conference regular season standings, one game ahead of San Diego State.
In addition to Stajduhar, UNM was led offensively by outfielder Jared Mang, who went 5-for-5 on the day, scoring four of the team’s 12 runs on the day.
Starting pitcher Luis Gonzalez had a shaky start on the mound for New Mexico, allowing seven earned runs on seven hits in four and a third inning of work. But the UNM offense and bullpen picked up Gonzalez with three shutout innings down the stretch to secure the win, and a three-run rally in the sixth inning to put the Lobos on top for good.
“It was good to get the sweep today as our guys battled through a bit of adversity,” UNM coach Ray Birmingham said after the game. “We have some things to clean up still with Texas Tech coming to town Tuesday and then heading to San Diego, but we can do it and getting a sweep helps get us some momentum. We can beat anyone; we just have to focus for nine innings.”
The Lobos will look to keep their focus for an entire game when Texas Tech comes to town on Tuesday, an excellent test for the team before a crucial three-game conference series against San Diego State over the weekend.
The matchup against the Aztecs could be a deciding series in the Mountain West Conference regular season race. Be sure to catch all the action live and in crystal clear FM stereo on ESPN Radio 101.7 The TEAM.