The UNM baseball team made one late inning comeback, but came up short on the second attempt, losing 8-7 in 10 innings to Brigham Young University Saturday at Lobo Field.
The Lobos (17-22, 6-9 in the Mountain West Conference) battled back from a two-run deficit in the ninth inning to send the game into extra innings, but they could not overcome a three-run home run by Cougar right fielder Matt Carson in the 10th-inning.
"We've lost a ton of games like that," shortstop Dusty Young said. "We have been fighting all year. We've lost a bunch of close games; we haven't given up once this year. We keep coming back, but we just need to find a way to get over the top."
UNM, losers of eight of its last nine games, could only muster three runs on six hits through eight innings, trailing 5-3 heading into the bottom of the ninth. The Lobos, however, showed some patience at the plate, drawing two walks by pinch-hitter Julio Guerrero and center fielder Matt Young to start the ninth inning.
Dusty Young followed, popping up a bunt that BYU third baseman Kevin Bills missed for an infield single to load the bases. UNM had a chance to do some real damage with the bases loaded and no outs, but did not get another hit. Second baseman Troy Cairns and first baseman Chris Alexander, however, tied the score at five with a pair of sacrifice flies.
"Their pitchers started off doing really well, hitting spots well," Dusty Young said. "And when they were making mistakes we weren't capitalizing on it like they were. But when they got tired they started making more mistakes and we took advantage of that."
Get content from The Daily Lobo delivered to your inbox
The Lobos' momentum did not last long - right-handed pitcher Derek McCready started the top of the 10th inning by walking leadoff batter Adam Wilkes. One out later, Cougar designated hitter Cameron Coughlan singled up the middle to bring up Carson, who hammered the ball over the center field wall for an 8-5 advantage.
"I made a bad pitch and he capitalized on it," McCready said. "He hit it a really long way."
McCready (2-3) took the loss, allowing three runs in one inning of work.
He said the biggest mistake he made was walking the leadoff batter and that the fastball that was hit for a home run was in the wrong location.
"I was trying to go inside and I left the ball over the plate," he said. "I just missed my spots. I didn't feel confident (Saturday)."
Cougar right-handed pitcher Tyler Dabo (2-0) survived a rough 10th inning to earn the victory, pitching two innings while allowing two runs, one earned, on three hits.
UNM looked like they were going to make another thrilling comeback in the bottom of the 10th as left fielder Todd Stroud singled to start the rally. Two outs later, Matt Alexander walked and Matt Young followed with a single to left field. The ball squirted through BYU left fielder Dave Jensen's legs, going all the way to the wall to score Stroud and pinch runner Cory Lizarraga, with Matt Young ending up at third base. But Dusty Young could not continue the rally, popping up to second base to end the game.
Although Dusty Young did not come through with the big hit, he did have a good performance, going four-for-five with one run scored. Matt Young extended his hitting streak to 18 with a one-for-five outing.
UNM head coach Rich Alday said he was disappointed with the Lobos' offensive performance. They finished with nine hits, including only six through eight innings. He said that his team did not take advantage of its speed by hitting the ball on the ground.
"It was a situation where we had too many fly balls offensively," Alday said. "We are not that type of team where we can get 16 fly balls and be successful."
BYU, which took two of three games this weekend, got on the board quickly, scoring three runs in the second inning on a three-run home run by Bills off of UNM starter Jeremy DeYapp. The Lobos answered in the bottom of the third inning with two runs on one hit. Matt Young reached on an error with one out and Dusty Young walked, setting up Cairns, who looped a hit down the left field line for a double to score Matt Young. Alexander ended the scoring with a sacrifice fly off of BYU starter Paul Jacinto to bring in Dusty Young.
The Cougars (16-19-1, 9-5) added a run in the top of the sixth inning with a home run by first baseman Dave Jensen. UNM crept closer with a run in the bottom of the sixth on a two-out RBI single by Joe Salas to score designated hitter Anthony Lovato, who reached on an error.
BYU boosted the lead to 5-3 in the top of the seventh inning on an RBI single to left field by center fielder Doug Jackson.
Cougar shortstop Ranger Weins led the 12-hit attack with a three-for-four performance, while Bills and Carson were each two-of-four with three RBI's.
UNM hits the road next weekend for a three-game series against the Air Force Academy.
