Cal Stevenson notched five hits in six at-bats, with three runs batted in and two runs scored as the visiting Arizona Wildcats beat the University of New Mexico Lobos 16-6 at Santa Ana Star Field on Monday evening.
The Wildcats combined to score 16 runs on 18 hits, with four different players driving in three runs apiece. The top two batters in the Arizona lineup dominated Lobo pitchers, with Stevenson and second baseman Cameron Cannon combining to go eight for 11 from the plate, with six RBI and four runs scored.
UNM starter James Harrington managed to get through the first inning relatively unscathed, allowing just one earned run on an RBI single by third baseman Nick Quintana. The second inning proved to be not so kind for the senior from Gilbert, Arizona, as the Wildcats scored five earned runs off of Harrington, highlighted by a two-run home run by Cannon over the left field fence.
Both squads posted scoreless frames in the third inning before Arizona blew the game wide open with a seven-run fourth inning to make the score 13-2. The Lobos would finally get their offense going with a four-run sixth-inning, but the game was too far out of reach with the Wildcats enjoying a comfortable 10-run cushion.
Phillip Sikes led the Lobo offense with a three-run blast in the sixth inning. It was one of three home runs on the day for New Mexico and the first home run for the freshman outfielder from Paris, Texas. Sikes would also pitch a scoreless eighth inning, with two strikeouts and zero walks.
Reliever Malachi Emond continued his strong season with a scoreless seventh inning, bringing his team-best ERA (minimum of 10 innings) to 2.55.
The Lobos continue their 2018 Mountain West Conference regular season schedule with a three-game home series against Fresno State starting on Friday night. Be sure to catch all the action live an in crystal-clear FM stereo on ESPN Radio 101.7 The TEAM.