The University of New Mexico Lobos started their weekend series against UC Riverside a day earlier than usual so both teams could spend the Easter Holiday at home with their families. With a 10-9 victory in the rubber match on Saturday and a 2-1 series win, the Lobos enjoyed their day off with momentum heading into a difficult one-game series against Texas Tech next week.
All three of the games between the Highlanders and the Lobos proved to be high scoring affairs, with the two teams combining to score 68 runs on 86 hits. UC Riverside rode a nine-run second inning to cruise to an 18-10 win in the opening game on Thursday, but the Lobos responded with an 11-10 win of their own on Friday, fueled by a seven-run fifth inning.
In the rubber match, the Lobos and Highlanders played to a four-four tie after five innings before the Lobos busted out with six runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to take a commanding lead. Justin Watari, Tyler Kelley, and Adam Adkins each posted an RBI double in the rally, while Jared Mang scored on a throwing error by first baseman Yeager Taylor.
The Highlanders battled back with four runs in the top of the eighth inning to make it a one-run game, but they failed to plate a run in the top of the ninth off UNM pitcher Hayden Schilling.
With two wins and the series victory, the Lobos move to 18-21 on the season, while the Highlanders drop to 12-25.
Ray Birmingham’s team will take the road on Tuesday for a one-game series (Wednesday game cancelled) against the Red Raiders in Lubbock, Texas, before continuing Mountain West Conference play against the Fresno State Bulldogs in Fresno next weekend.