SURPRISE, Ariz. — Broc Mortensen hit his first home run of the season and Matt Ager struck out 10 batters over six innings in his first collegiate start, but UC Santa Barbara fell to New Mexico, 3-1, in the second game of the Sanderson Ford Classic on Saturday night.
The Lobos scored three runs in the third inning to support the pitching of Tristin Lively, who struck out seven and allowed four runs in six innings.
New Mexico capitalized on a walk and failed pickoff attempt by Ager to score its three runs. A single and another walk later loaded the bases with one out. Lenny Ashby, New Mexico’s best hitter, drove in two runs with a single to left center, and a wild pitch from Ager brought in the third run.
The sophomore settled down, striking out two Lobos in a row to get out of the third. Ager pitched around a lead-off triple in the fourth inning thanks to some heads-up defense from first baseman LeTrey McCollum. He faced only three batters in the fifth and set down the side in order in the sixth, finishing the frame with a pair of backwards Ks to bring his total to a career-high 10 in the game.
The Gauchos got on the board after Lively left the game. Mortensen homered to center field off Lobos’ reliever Hudson Terrell.
The Gauchos threatened in the ninth. Zander Darby singled through the left side to lead off the inning and scampered to second on a passed ball.
But New Mexico closer Wil Bannister got Mortensen and Nick Oakley to ground out to second base to end the game.
The Gauchos play their third game of the Sanderson Ford Classic on Sunday night, taking on Minnesota at 4 p.m. PST. In Friday’s season opener, UCSB earned its first-ever win over the team from the Big Ten, 9-7.