Texas Tech Falls to New Mexico, 6-5

The No. 19 Texas Tech baseball team jumped out to a 4-0 lead, but couldn't hang on, dropping a 6-5 decision to the New Mexico Lobos Tuesday at Lobo Field in Albuquerque.

Junior reliever Dalton Brown (1-1) gave up a two-run homer in the sixth inning to Lobos designated hitter Chris DeVito which broke a 4-4 tie giving New Mexico the eventual game-winning run.

New Mexico reliever Alex Estrella (1-1) picked up his first win of the season pitching 1.1 scoreless innings allowing a hit with one strikeout.

Lobo Closer Victor Sanchez picked up his second save of the season getting the final out of the contest when right fielder Aaron Siple made an extraordinary over the shoulder catch. Red Raider designated hitter Corey Raley drove the ball to deep right field with two runners on base, but Siple made the catch near the warning track to end the game.

The Red Raiders (18-11) put up a four spot in the third inning.

Freshman 3B Tanner Gardner smacked a two-out double down the right-field line for Tech’s first hit of the game. Sophomore outfielder Stephen Smith followed with a two-run homer to left field - his third of the season - to give Tech a 2-0 lead.

Tyler Neslony doubled off the center-field wall, and 1B Eric Gutierrez reached base by being hit by a pitch. Sophomore Anthony Lyons, making his first start in right field, drove in Neslony and Gutierrez with a two-run single to center field giving Tech a 4-0 lead.

The Lobos (15-11) answered immediately scoring four runs of their own off  freshman left hander Parker Mushinski, who relieved starter Quinn Carpenter, setting up Devito’s heroics.

Carpenter pitched three scoreless innings allowing four hits and a pair of walks with two strikeouts while throwing 68 pitches in his second start of the season.

Right-hander Matt Custered made his seventh consecutive scoreless outing striking out a season-high four batters   Carpenter hasn't allowed an extra-base hit during his last five outings and  hasn't allowed an earned run in 10.0 innings, in eight appearances this season.

Tech began a comeback attempt when Gutierrez hit his team-leading 10th double of the season down the right-field line and later scored on Lyons' third RBI of the game with a single to left-center field for his first multi-hit game of the season.

Lyons went 2-for-3, with a career-high three RBI, Smith went 2-for-3 with a run scored, two RBI and two walks and Neslony went 2-for-5 with a run scored.

Tech returns home hosting No. 2 TCU for a three-game Big 12 series starting Thursday  with a 6:30 p.m. first pitch at Dan Law Field at Rip Griffin Park. The series opener will be televised on FOX College Sports - Atlantic.