Steve Puterski / LVN Photo
The University of Nevada baseball team split a Mountain West doubleheader on Sunday at New Mexico.
The Wolf Pack (14-10, 3-3) came from behind to defeat the Lobos (11-12, 4-2), 3-2, before a comeback in the second game fell short as the Lobos held on a for a 7-5 win.
Kewby Meyer was 3-for-9 with a run scored on the day, while Austin Byler was 2-for-9 with two RBIs.
Nevada started the scoring in game one after Brooks Klein singled home Scott Kaplan, who reached on a walk. New Mexico tied the game in the fifth when Allbatron scored on a wild pitch, and took the lead in the seventh when a leadoff double resulted in a run. It wasn’t until the ninth when a ball hit by Meyer fell into the outfield to score Jamison Rowe and Shaun Mize and give Nevada the lead for good. Michael Fain came into the game in the bottom of the ninth to record his seventh save of the season, but not before loading the bases with two outs. Michael Bradshaw (1-0) tossed a scoreless eighth to earn the win.
The Lobos were the first to get on the scoreboard in game two, putting two across in both the second and third innings. Nevada responded by scoring twice in the fourth and fifth to tie the game at 4-4. Despite tying the game, New Mexico scored once in the bottom of the fifth, seventh and eighth to secure the victory.
On Friday, the Pack were unable to hold a five-run ninth inning lead and fell 9-8.
Nevada built an 8-3 lead behind the pitching of ace Bradey Shipley, but UNM scored six runs on five hits in the bottom of the ninth to win 9-8.
Trailing 2-1 after four innings the Pack outscored the Lobos 7-1 to take an 8-3 advantage into the bottom of the ninth inning.
Three consecutive pinch hitters reached base for the Lobos to start the ninth off reliever Colby Blueberg before Fain came on seeking his seventh save. Fain retired the first hitter he faced but the next four batters reached base, and catcher Mitch Garver’s double scored the final two runs of the game to give New Mexico the win.
Nevada pounded out a season-high 16 hits with six players collecting multiple hits. Right fielder Brooks Klein went 4-for-5 with two runs scored and drove in two.
Garver led UNM with three hits and also drove in two.
Shipley earned a no decision and Fain (2-1) lost for the first time allowing three runs, two earned. Victor Sanchez (1-0) earned the win pitching 1.2 shutout innings of relief.
Notes: The Wolf Pack played at Saint Mary’s (Calif.) and will host Mountain West rival Fresno State for a three-game set starting Thursday. … On Tuesday, the Pack take on the Reno Aces at 6 p.m. at Aces Ballpark.