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The New Mexico Lobos are underdogs in their regional, facing the Arizona St. Sun Devils. The Lobos could be out by Saturday night.
The New Mexico Lobos have already made a surprising run by sweeping through the Mountain West Conference tournament to make it to the NCAA tournament, but their luck may have just run out. The Lobos took on host Arizona State Friday night and fell 4-2 off of a three-run walk-off home run by designated hitter Joey DeMichele.
New Mexico starting pitcher Rudy Jaramillo had a great performance and went eight innings, allowing two earned runs, four hits and had four strike outs. Jaramillo did not allow his first hit until the sixth inning and did not allow his first run until the bottom of the seventh, but when he allowed the tying run on base in the ninth he was replaced by Gene Sanchez. Sanchez gave up one hit which was the walk-off home run and a walk, but he had a passed ball that allowed to Sun Devil base runners to advance to second and third with only one out.
That is when Joey DeMichele came to the plate and the Lobos decided to pitch to him even though there was no force out available, and after a few pitches DeMichele took Gera Sanchez deep on a three-run home run for the win.
New Mexico had their chances as they left six men on base in tonight's game, but Arizona State starting pitcher Brady Rodgers made it difficult on New Mexico by striking out 11 Lobos.
New Mexico now takes on Arkansas, who was upset by Charlotte, in an elimination game.
Here is Saturday's schedule (times are MT):
Game 3, New Mexico vs. Arkansas, 3 p.m., June 4 TV: Fox Sports Arizona (Online)
Game 4, Arizona State vs. Charlotte, 8 p.m., June 4 TV: Fox Sports Arizona (Online)
If it wasn't for a stunning upset over the TCU Horned Frogs in the Mountain West Conference Tournament Championship Game, the New Mexico Lobos wouldn't have made the NCAA Tournament. But now the 20-39 Lobos obtained the MWC's automatic bid and will be the No. 4 seed in the Tempe Regional.
It will be a tough draw as they face the No. 1 Arizona State Sun Devils. But the Sun Devils are a familiar foe to the Lobos as they played them in their season-opening series. It was a four-game series that was reduced to three, but the Lobos were unable to pick up a win in any of them. They came closest to victory in a 7-5 loss in the first game of a doubleheader, coming up short but scoring three runs over the last two innings.
Freshman 3B DJ Peterson leads the Lobos offensively, hitting .324/.385/.555 with 31 doubles, three triples and six homers. He's driven in a team-high 48 runs.
Tempe Regional Schedule (Times MT)
Game 1, No. 2 Arkansas vs. No. 3 Charlotte, 1 p.m., June 3
Game 2, No. 1 Arizona St. vs. No. 4 New Mexico, 8 p.m., June 3
Game 3, Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2, 3 p.m., June 4
Game 4, Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, 8 p.m., June 4
Game 5: Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 loser, 2 p.m., June 5
Game 6: Game 4 winner vs. Game 5 winner, 7 p.m., June 5
Game 7 (if necessary): Game 4 winner vs. Game 5 winner, 7:30 p.m., June 6
2011 NCAA Baseball Regionals Scores: New Mexico Exits Tournament After Loss To Arkansas
The No. 4 New Mexico Lobos had a strong run to end their season, but it couldn't continue on through to the Super Regional round of the 2011 NCAA Baseball Tournament. After Saturday's heartbreaking loss to Arizona State on a walkoff three-run home run, the Lobos lost to the No. 2 Arkansas Razorbacks, 3-0.
The Razorbacks scored two runs off starter Richard Olson in the second inning on a double and a fielder's choice. Olson went 7.1 innings and struck out five. A single off Austin House in the ninth completed the scoring.
Arkansas starter D.J. Baxendale held the Lobos scoreless for eight innings and limited them to just four hits. He struck out seven and brought his ERA to 1.58.Trent Daniel struck out the side in the ninth for the save,
The Lobos became the first team eliminated from this regional. Arkansas lost to Charlotte on Friday and will play the loser of Arizona State-Charlotte. Charlotte defeated Arkansas on Friday night.
Jun 04 6:16p by Russ Oates