Lobos barely avoid being no-hit in 8-0 defeat at UNLV

LAS VEGAS, Nev. — UNLV came within one strike of nohitting New Mexico on Saturday night, but Hayden Schilling drew a full-count walk, Jared Mang singled, and the Lobos avoided that embarrassment.

Instead, UNM lost 8-0 in the second game of the three-game Mountain West Conference series, with the finale today at 1 p.m.

Ryan Hare (4-2) got within one out of the no-hitter, which would have been the first one thrown at UNM since 1990.

He walked three, struck out eight and was removed after Mang’s single. Conner Woods got the final out.

Jack Thomas-Wold homered and scored three runs for UNLV (17-12, 5-6). Nathaniel Garley (4-2) allowed three runs on eight hits in seven innings and took the loss for the Lobos.

■ In Chicago, New Mexico State’s bats couldn’t heat up Saturday, and the Aggies fell 7-3 to Chicago State in Western Athletic Conference baseball.

It was Chicago State’s third victory over the Aggies in 22 games all time. The rubber game of the three-game set is today at 11 a.m.

The Cougars (7-17, 2-3) plated five runs in the sixth inning to erase a 3-2 deficit, and the Aggies (19-7, 3-2) went scoreless in the final four frames.

Chicago State starter Dylan Cumming (1-1) worked eight innings and overcame six walks to Aggie hitters to get the victory.

Justin Dehn (4-2) took the loss, allowing seven runs (five earned) through 5⅓ innings. Center fielder and leadoff hitter Logan Bottrell had three of NMSU’s six hits.

■ In Colorado Springs, New Mexico Highlands fell 15-7 Saturday to host UC Colorado Springs at Mountain Lion Park.

NMHU (9-18 overall, 2-12 RMAC) trailed 10-1 after the Mountain Lions (16-12, 8-6) put up a seven-run fourth inning before the Cowboys started chipping away.

Joe Cilladi led the Cowboys at the plate, going 4-for-5 with an RBI, two runs and a stolen base. Eloy Ryena went 3-for-5 with a double and RBI while Jared Brown was 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run.

The teams will complete the four-game series with a doubleheader today starting at 11 a.m.

SOFTBALL: Host Seattle University’s Madison Cathcart hit a two-run walk-off homer on Saturday to give her team a 4-3, eight-inning win over New Mexico State in Western Athletic Conference play.

It was the second consecutive game that Seattle (24-12, 4-2) walked off the Aggies (15-14, 1-2), having done so 2-1 in 10 innings of Friday night’s doubleheader nightcap.

Saturday’s rubber game of the series was tied 2-2 in the regulation seven innings, and the Aggies pushed across an unearned run in the top of the eighth.

Freshman Chloe Rivas has two of the six hits for the Aggies, who stranded 10 base runners. Kayla Green (7-3) took the loss.

New Mexico State returns to action hosting New Mexico on Tuesday for a doubleheader beginning at 4 p.m.

■ At Lobo Softball Field, Nevada stunned New Mexico with a seven-run top of the seventh inning and defeated the Lobos 11-6 on Saturday.

The Wolf Pack (19-12) won 7-1 on Friday night; Nevada goes for the season sweep today at noon. UNM falls to 10-23 with Saturday’s loss.

Nevada capitalized on two errors in the fateful seventh, and three of its runs were unearned.

Andrea Howard homered and drove in three runs for the Lobos, who struck out 15 times against Nevada pitcher Julia Jensen.

■ In Las Vegas, N.M., New Mexico Highlands (6-17, 5-12 RMAC) dropped a doubleheader to Chadron State (10-23, 7-16) 12-1 and 5-4.

TRACK AND FIELD: At the Cal State Fullerton Challenge, Tanner Battikha won the men’s long jump and Beau Clafton won the javelin for New Mexico on Saturday.

… At the Stanford (Calif.) Invitational, Michael Wilson finished second out of 43 runners in the 800 meters at 1:48.77.

UNM is back in action this coming Saturday at its lone home meet of the season, the Don Kirby Tailwind Classic.

TENNIS: In Las Cruces, the host New Mexico State men (11-8, 2-0) won 6-1 over Chicago State (3-15, 0-1) on Saturday.

The Aggies continue play today by hosting Kansas City at 1 p.m. at the NMSU Tennis Center. Admission is free.