The Lobos fell 5-2 in the first game of a critical three-game series against the Nevada Wolfpack on Thursday, as Trevor Charpie allowed just four hits and two earned runs in a complete-game gem.
But it was not all bad news for the Lobos on a windy Thursday afternoon at Santa Ana Star Field, as UNM’s magic number dropped to two after San Diego State’s loss to Fresno State. Two wins in the final two games of the regular season, or a combination of wins and Aztec losses, can clinch the Mountain West Regular season crown for Ray Birmingham’s Lobos.
First baseman Carl Stajduhar and designated hitter Danny Collier led the Lobos with two hits apiece, but the star of the day was Wolfpack pitcher Charpie, who held the Lobos to one of their lowest hit totals of the season.
“He stayed at one side of the plate, he threw fastballs that ran over there, and he made you make a decision whether it was going to run in or stay a strike,” UNM coach Ray Birmingham said of Charpie via GoLobos.com.
“We were trying to get ahead in the count because you were going to get a fastball that didn’t run in. But the baseball gods weren’t good to us today because the wind was blowing in and knocked down a couple of homers. We lined out a few times too, but as a team, we haven’t done anything good in a week. I don’t think anyone was particularly sharp tonight and we haven’t been sharp in a while. The fight in the dog is a big deal here, and the fight I’m seeing from some bothers me. We have nice, good kids here, but we need to see some fight.”
UNM will look to regain their fight and killer instinct on Friday night in game two of the series at Santa Ana Star Field. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 pm, with Robert Portnoy calling all of the exciting action on ESPN Radio 101.7 The TEAM, and on the TEAM stream App available in the Apple App store and Google Play.