Today San Diego State at New Mexico (Lobo Field), 2 p.m.

Mitch Garver and D.J. Peterson served as a two-man wrecking crew for the Lobos (12-12, 5-2 MWC), combining to go 7-for-8 with five doubles, a triple, five RBIs and five runs scored. Garver was 4-for-5 and extended his hitting streak to 23 games.

Chase Harris chipped in with a grand slam, and Alex Real smacked a solo homer for New Mexico, which scored three first-inning runs and never looked back.

The blowout was a bit surprising considering the pitching matchup.

Cederoth features a mid- to high-90s fastball and is expected to be an early-round pick in June’s major league draft. He came in with a 2.08 earned-run average and had allowed just 25 hits and nine earned runs in 39 innings this season.

The Lobos rocked Cederoth for eight runs on eight hits in four innings.

“I’ve had pretty good luck against him,” said Garver, who was 3-for-3 off Cederoth. “I don’t know why, I just see the ball well.”

UNM’s Ryan Padilla, left, lunges to score during the Lobos’ win Thursday vs. SDSU. Catching is Jake Romanski. (MARLA BROSE/JOURNAL)

UNM countered with Baumgartner, whose fastball tops out in the high-80s and who came in with a 7.52 ERA. He scattered seven hits, struck out five and allowed just one earned run.

Baumgartner said the idea of trying to outduel Cederoth never crossed his mind.

“I just try to do what I can,” the junior said. “Focusing on who the other side has out there does no good.”

Lobo coach Ray Birmingham instructed his left-hander to focus on what he does best – throw change-ups.

“When your best pitch is a change-up, use it,” Birmingham said of his advice to Baumgartner. “You’re a soft lefty, so be a soft lefty. Soft, softer and softest is what we wanted.”

Baumgartner had the Aztecs (12-13, 4-3) off balance most of the day and had to escape just one major jam. He retired Steven Pallares on a pop-up with the bases loaded to end the sixth.

“He can spot up three pitches, and he threw them all for strikes,” Garver said of Baumgartner. “He pitched really well.”

UNM’s offense provided support early and often. Peterson, Garver and Josh Melendez drove in first-inning runs to make the score 3-0. Ryan Padilla’s two-run triple highlighted another three-run rally in the third, and Garver’s two-run triple made it 8-1 in the fourth.

It was 9-1 in the seventh, when SDSU relievers walked the bases loaded and Harris lined his grand slam over the left-field fence. It was his second home run of the season and UNM’s third grand slam. Peterson has the other two.

Peterson finished 3-for-3 with three doubles Thursday. Harris and Padilla each had two of UNM’s 14 hits.

Ryan Muno, who was 2-for-4 with an RBI double, was the only player with multiple hits for San Diego State.
— This article appeared on page D1 of the Albuquerque Journal