ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Colorado State University Pueblo saw a one-run lead in the bottom of the ninth inning slip away here Tuesday evening as the ThunderWolves allowed two runs here Tuesday evening in the bottom of the ninth to the University of New Mexico in a non-conference match-up at Santa Ana Star Field.
 
Tuesday's loss was the 10th straight for the Pack and drops its overall record to 12-24 on the season, while NCAA Division I New Mexico improved to 17-13 on the year. The two teams will conclude the two-game mid-week series with a 2 p.m. game on Wednesday at Santa Ana Star Field.
 
The Pack took a 7-6 lead in the top of the eighth inning thanks to a double by junior designated hitter Christian Casteneda (El Paso, Texas/Otero JC) and an RBI single to left by redshirt senior Trey Vasquez (Greeley, Colo./Dodge City CC) off of UNM reliever Brian McBroom, who replaced Lobos starter Jaren Jackson to open the eighth.
 
Holding a 7-6 lead heading into the bottom of the ninth, the Lobos used two errors from Vasquez, a wild pitch, a walk, a hit batsman and a walk-off sacrifice fly from pinch hitter Konner Kinkade to plate two unearned runs to pick up the come-from-behind victory over the Pack.
 
Both of those runs came off junior Nick Perry (Denton, Texas/Richland JC), who was the fifth of six Pack pitchers in the game as he tossed 1.1 innings in relief and allowed one hit and two unearned runs, while walking two and striking out none. The loss by Perry dropped his record to 2-4 on the season.
 
In the game, both teams each had 11 hits, including two hits each from Casteneda, Vasquez, senior first baseman Reggie Williams (Castle Rock, Colo./Douglas County), sophomore rightfielder Elijah Borjas (Denver, Colo./Lakewood) and junior second baseman Joseph Quintana (Golden, Colo./Erskine). Five of the Pack's 11 hits went for extra bases against the Lobos, who are members of the Mountain West Conference.
 
The Pack struck first in the top of the third inning as Quintana recorded a two-out triple to left center and scored when Williams delivered an RBI single in the following at-bat to give the Pack a 1-0 lead.
 
UNM, who is now 23-5 all-time against the Pack in baseball, took the lead in the bottom of the fourth thanks to RBI singles by Reed Spenrath and Devon Dixon off sophomore hurler Frank Wierman (Surprise, Ariz./Shadow Creek), who relieved sophomore starting pitcher Travis Farrell (Las Vegas, Nev./Otero JC).
 
Farrell turned in a strong start as he tossed three innings and allowed two hits and no runs, while striking out two and walking none in his first start of the 2023 season.
 
The Pack offense would explode for five runs on five hits in the top of the sixth to take a 6-2 lead. In the inning, Williams opened the frame with a single, moved to third on a double by Casteneda and both scored on a 2-run single to center by Borjas. The next hitter, Vasquez, delivered a 2-run triple to right center to clear the bases and give the Pack a 5-2 lead. The next hitter, senior leftfielder Zac Hanenberg (Cañon City, Colo. Cañon City), hit a ground-ruled RBI double to left center to give the Pack a 6-2 lead.
 
The Lobos pulled within 6-3 on a two-out, solo home run over the fence in right field by Justin Olson. The homer was the fourth of the season for Olson.
 
UNM added three more runs in the bottom of the seventh to tie the game at 6-all. The big hit in the inning was a 2-run triple to left off the bat of Spenrath. Spenrath's triple came off sophomore hurler Jacob Petersheim (Broadway, Va./Broadway), who was the fourth Pack pitcher in the game.
 
The Lobos got two hits each from Lenny Ashby, Jr. and Spenrath, while Spenrath had three RBI and Braydon Runion scored two runs in the win.
 
Jaren Jackson started the game for the Lobos and pitched seven innings and allowed eight hits and six runs (six earned runs), while walking one and striking out four.
 
McBroom (2-1) earned the win for the Lobos as he tossed two innings and allowed three hits and one run, while striking out three and walking none.
 
While the Pack committed two errors, both of which came from Vasquez, the Lobos had one error.
 
UNM left seven runners on base, while the Pack stranded just four on the night.