Only two hits for Lobos in loss to Aztecs

Struggling UNM suffers its fifth setback in a row

There’s still fight in the dog but its bite is decidedly lacking.

The University of New Mexico baseball team made the most of its two hits Friday night but those two hits were far from enough in an 11-5 loss to San Diego State at Santa Ana Star Field.

Aztecs right-hander Harrison Pyatt provided some intrigue, taking a no-hitter into the seventh inning before Daniel Zakosek’s one-out RBI double ended that drama. UNM then briefly threatened to scratch its way back into the game, trimming a 7-1 deficit to 7-4 with three runs in the bottom of the seventh.

The comeback angle did not last long either.

San Diego State (32-14, 14-7) roughed up the Lobos’ bullpen for three runs in the eighth to rebuild a comfortable lead and secure a win for Pyatt (4-2). UNM suffered its fifth straight loss and might best be described as limping to the finish line.

Junior outfielder Jared Mang will undergo surgery on his injured hand next week, senior outfielder Danny Collier remains limited to designated-hitter duty with a bad knee and veteran coach Ray Birmingham has limited options.

“We’re a struggling baseball team with a lot of holes,” Birmingham said. “I give these kids credit, they still compete and they’re staying together. There’s just a lot for them to overcome right now.”

San Diego State, meanwhile, is battling Nevada for the Mountain West Conference lead. The Aztecs helped their cause with a number of clutch hits Friday, scoring eight of their 11 runs with two outs.

The Aztecs scored single runs (all with two outs) in each of the first four innings. UNM (15-29-1, 8-17) did not have a base runner against Pyatt until Hayden Schilling walked with one out in the fourth. He later scored on a ground ball to trim the deficit to 4-1, but Pyatt kept the no-hitter intact through six impressive innings.

“(Pyatt) just pitches,” Birmingham said. “He doesn’t give in and he only throws his best fastball five or six times a game. He’s impressive.”

Things finally started to come apart for Pyatt with one out in the seventh. Collier drew a walk, Phillip Sikes was hit by a pitch and Zakosek lined a pinch-hit, opposite-field double into the left-field corner. Garrett Gouldsmith followed with an RBI single to chase Pyatt, but those were the only hits UNM would manage.