The New Mexico Lobos and UC Riverside Highlanders played a doubleheader on Saturday, though if one were to only look at the final scores, it seemed more like a pair of football games.
UCR won the opener 14-12 before UNM took the nightcap 10-7 at Isotopes Park.
The Lobos (6-7) led for almost all of the second game before the Highlanders (8-7) rallied for five runs in the fourth inning to take a 7-6 lead.
UNM responded immediately as Luke Campbell singled to lead off the bottom of the frame. Alex Real and Ryan Padilla drew back-to-back walks to load the bases. Chase Harris then laid down a bunt single that scored Campbell to tie the game.
After Alex Allbritton lined out to second base, Josh Melendez drew a walk to force in Real. Sam Haggerty then hit into a fielder's choice, but it was enough to score Padilla.
The Lobos would tack on an insurance run in the fifth on Harris' RBI single.
Jonathan Cuellar (1-0) earned the win despite allowing three runs in one inning of relief. Josh Walker followed with five scoreless innings to earn his second save in as many days.
D.J. Peterson got UNM started with a solo home run in the first inning, his third solo blast of the day. Peterson was then walked five times, three intentionally, in all of his remaining plate appearances in the nightcap.
The first game saw the Lobos constantly playing catch-up to the Highlanders, whose bats came out on fire. Clayton Prestridge hit a two-run homer in the first inning, but UCR gave the lead right back in the bottom of the frame as Campbell hit a two-run single and Padilla followed with an RBI single to make it 3-2 in favor of UNM.
That would be the Lobos' final lead, however, as the Highlanders erupted for five runs in the second inning on Nick Vilter's two-run homer and Phil Holinsworth's three-run triple.
Peterson homered in the second and UNM tacked on two more runs in the third to pull within 7-6, but UCR picked up two more runs in the fourth and never led by less than two runs the rest of the way.
Kevin Baumgartner (0-2) took it on the chin, allowing seven runs on eight hits and one walk in 1.2 innings.
Peterson went 5-for-5 with five runs scored and the two solo homers. Campbell finished the game 2-for-5 with four RBI.
The Lobos and Highlanders will wrap up the four-game series Sunday at 1 p.m.
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