University of New Mexico Defeats ENMU in Non-Conference Game at Lobo Field

ALBUQUERQUE, NM – The University of New Mexico, which competes in NCAA Division I, improved to 19-10 overall with a 25-5 win over Eastern New Mexico University, Tuesday, Mar. 25, at Lobo Field. ENMU, which competes in NCAA Division II, fell to 7-29.

The Lobos led 7-0 with one run in the first and six runs in the second. ENMU cut the lead to three runs by scoring four times in the third, including a three-run homer by Franco Barrero (Sr., DH/1B, Laredo, TX/Laredo JC), but UNM added four runs in the bottom of the inning.

Eastern trailed 14-4 after the Lobos tallied three runs in the fourth inning. Justin Gee (Fr., RF, Clovis, NM/Clovis HS) was hit by a pitch and scored for ENMU in the sixth inning for the Greyhounds’ final run. UNM tacked on one run in the bottom of the sixth, then added four runs in the seventh and six runs in the eighth. UNM’s Jeff Grady hit a three-run homer in the seventh.

UNM finished the game with 23 hits. Cory Lizarraga led the way with 4 hits in 6 at bats. He also scored four runs. Mike Svetlic was 2 for 3 with four runs and two RBIs. Grady was 2 for 2 and led all players with four RBIs. A total of eight UNM players recorded two or more hits.

ENMU achieved nine hits. Barrero was 2 for 3, while Steven Romano (Sr., SS/3B, Las Cruces, NM/Onate HS) and Boe Parr (Fr., 1B/C, Santa Fe, NM/Capital HS) each went 2 for 4. Mark Wallace (So., CF, Alamogordo, NM/Alamogordo HS) was 2 for 5. All four players scored once, with Barrero earning three RBIs, Wallace registering one RBI and Parr driving in one run.

The Lobos’ starting pitcher, Chad Giannetti, improved to 3-3, while pitching five complete innings. He allowed seven hits and four runs. Jerry Macias (Sr., RHP, Las Cruces, NM/Las Cruces HS), who started for ENMU, three just two innings and fell to 1-5 with the loss. Both teams used five pitchers overall. The Greyhounds committed six errors, while UNM played errorless ball.

Two of Eastern’s hits were doubles. Wallace drove in Romano with ENMU’s first run on a double with no outs in the third inning. Wallace eventually scored on Barrero’s home run. Dallas McMann (Sr., C, Amarillo, TX/Randall HS) also pounded out a double during the third inning.

ENMU will conclude its eight-game road trip with a single game at New Mexico Highlands University on Wednesday, Mar. 26. First pitch in Las Vegas, N.M., is scheduled for 1 p.m. (MST). ENMU is currently 0-7 on the road trip, with four losses by one run and one loss by two runs.