Nevada 4, New Mexico 3
Saturday, March 16, 2024
Reno, Nev. - Don Weir Field at Peccole Park

WP: Ethan O'Neal (1-1)
LP: Jaren Jackson (1-4)

RENO, Nev. - Taylor Holder sent Jaren Jackson's second offering of the bottom of the ninth deep and out to right, walking off a 4-3 series-clinching victory for Nevada Saturday at Don Weir Field at Peccole Park.

The crowd at Peccole Park went from deflation to elation in a matter of minutes, in the ninth. New Mexico's Jake Holland tied the game with a two-out single that ticked off the glove of a diving Jackson Waller at third, before Ethan O'Neal came on and got Will Asby to ground out to second to escape a two-on, two-out jam. And on Jackson's second pitch of the bottom half, Holder went opposite field, his drive with enough to carry the fence and set of the Wolf Pack celebration.

The win clinches a second-straight Mountain West series for Nevada (8-8, 4-1 MW), and gives the Pack a shot at the sweep in Sunday's 12:05 p.m. contest. It was also the 200th career victory for second-year Nevada head coach Jake McKinley.

The Pack picked up starter Theo Millas, who struck out four and gave up just two runs on five hits over six innings, with three runs against the New Mexico bullpen in the seventh to go up 3-2. With two outs and no one on, Nevada started the rally against Josh Barnhouse as Jake Harvey ran out a grounder into the hole on the right side that was knocked down by Konner Kinkade. Michael Ball then doubled off the wall in left, with Harvey coming all the way around from first to halve the deficit.

Brian McBroom came on for Barnhouse, and was welcomed by JR Freethy's two-run, go-ahead homer to left, justly removing Millas as the pitcher of record. Freethy was one of three Wolf Pack batters with two hits Saturday, driving in two runs.

Freethy's homer also rewarded the Nevada defense's escape of a jam in the top of the seventh. Casey Burfield came on for Nevada and found himself in a one-out situation with runners at second and third. But Justin Acal knocked down a tough hop at short to hold the runners and throw Tye Wood out at first, then Jackson Waller scooped Holland's grounder and threw across the diamond to end the threat.

O'Neal got his first win of the season, recording the final out of the ninth. Jackson fell to 1-4 with the loss for the Lobos (11-8, 3-2 MW), while New Mexico starter Daxton Purser went six scoreless innings with six strikeouts and just two hits allowed.