Dye’s complete game helps Lobos rout UNLV
Losing streak? What losing streak? The University of New Mexico baseball team won its second straight game on Saturday and looked nothing like the struggling bunch that dropped 10 in a row between March 31 and Friday night. Cody Dye pitched a completegame gem, and Justin Watari and Connor Mang had three hits apiece as the Lobos routed UNLV 11-2 at Santa Ana Star Field.
Dye (3-5) was outstanding, scattering seven hits and getting 15 ground-ball outs on his way to UNM’s first complete game of the season. The right-hander threw 114 pitches, striking out four, walking four and benefitting from two double-play balls.
“I honestly wasn’t going for strikeouts today,” Dye said. “I wanted to let my defense work and give us some innings. Our hitters made it easy for me today.”
The Rebels (28-14, 9-8) grabbed a 2-1 lead on Jack-Thomas Wold’s two-run single in the second inning. UNLV had few offensive highlights the rest of the way.
UNM (14-22-1, 8-12), meanwhile, came up with key two-out hits for a second straight day. Fifteen of the Lobos’ 19 runs in the series scored with two outs.
The Lobos struck for five two-out runs in the bottom of the second Saturday to take the lead for good. Watari singled home the tying run, and Jared Mang’s RBI single gave UNM a 3-2 lead.
Connor Mang followed with a highpop fly to shallow right that was lost in the sun and dropped in for a two-run double. Jeff Deimling’s RBI hit made the score 6-2 and an ensuing walk ended the day for Rebels starter Chase Maddux (3-5). Maddux is the son of Hall of Fame pitcher and UNLV volunteer assistant coach Greg Maddux.
“The sun ball ended up being big for us,” UNM coach Ray Birmingham said. “Lucky but we’ll take it. A lot of those things went the other way during the (losing) streak.”
Dye allowed just three base runners
to get as far as second base the rest of the way. UNM’s offense steadily added to its lead against the UNLV bullpen, racking up 16 hits overall.
Watari finished 3-for-5 with a pair of doubles, two RBIs and three runs scored. The Lobos’ sophomore second baseman extended a recent surge that has lifted his batting average to .314.
“I keep saying it’s my new bat,” Watari said with a smile. “I broke my other one (last week) at Nevada.
“Actually, it’s more about trusting the swing I’ve been working on for two years. I feel like it’s finally starting to click for me and for the whole team.”
Connor Mang also had three hits for the Lobos. Five players finished with two apiece. Nick Ames was the lone player with multiple hits for UNLV.