University of Nevada Athletics

New Mexico 13, Nevada 4
Thursday, May 21, 2026
Mesa, Ariz. - Sloan Park

WP: Ryan Castillo (8-3)
LP: Aidan Brainard (5-4)
SV: Cooper Corkrean (4)

MESA, Ariz. - New Mexico scored 10 runs over the third and fourth innings in Thursday's play-in game at the Credit Union 1 Mountain West Championship, ending Nevada's season with a 13-4 decision.

The bats came out hot for both teams, with New Mexico getting a three-run homer from Lenny Junior Ashby in the first and Nevada (24-27) fighting back to even with two runs in the first and a Jayce Dobie RBI double in the second.

But it was the Lobos (29-22-1) who kept it going. New Mexico had seven hits and took advantage of three walks against Wolf Pack starter Aidan Brainard, breaking things open after a leadoff walk to Khalil Walker in the third. Back-to-back doubles from Akili Carris and Luke Mansby drove in a run each, then with two outs the Lobos got an RBI single from Brodey Williams before Antonio Gianni delivered the big shot with a two-run homer down the line in left to make it 8-3.

That spelled the end for Brainard, who fell to 5-4 and was charged with eight runs over just 2.2 innings. The Wolf Pack bullpen fared no better, as inning-opening free passes to Anthony Diaz and Walker in the fourth led to an RBI single from Carris. Eric Valdez walked Mansy to load the bases, and Ashby delivered another big hit, his two-run single to right-center making it 11-3. New Mexico would add two more in the frame to balloon its lead to 10 at 13-3.

Lobo starter Ryan Castillo weathered 5.2 innings over which he gave up 11 hits and four runs, but stranded nine Wolf Pack runners. Castillo was helped in key moments such as in the first, when he limited damage by inducing a double-play ball to short from Sean Yamaguchi after three-straight singles loaded bases with none out in the first.

Yamaguchi would produce the final run of the game, lining a shot over the wall in left for his 14th home run of the season. Mikey Cruz Jr. led the Wolf Pack with three hits while Dobie and Jackson Waller each had two hits and drove in a run.

Ashby went 3-for-4 and drove in five for New Mexico while Gianni drove in three and went 2-for-3. Cooper Corkrean came on in relief of Castillo and struck out four, allowing just one hit over the final 3.1 innings for his fourth save.