Utes lose lead, game to Lobos

SALT LAKE CITY — The University of Utah bullpen couldn't hold on to a 4-1 lead over New Mexico on Saturday afternoon, giving up two runs each in the seventh, eighth and ninth innings to lose 7-4.

New Mexico (18-23, 7-8 MWC) drew first blood in the contest at Franklin Covey Field, scoring an unearned run in the top of the first. Utah tied things up in the second when Dustin Hennis led off the inning with a walk and later scored as part of a successful double steal.

The Utes (18-21, 8-7 MWC) knocked around New Mexico starter Jacob Norton for three runs in the third inning to take a 4-1 lead . Center fielder Nate Burnham doubled to lead off and scored on a single by second baseman Corey Shimada. First baseman Jay Brossman doubled down the left-field line to put runners at second and third.

Hennis then smacked a sharp single to center, plating Shimada and Brossman to put the Utes up by three. But Norton settled down, retiring 16 of the final 21 batters he faced and holding Utah scoreless the rest of the way.

Utah starter Brad DeVore went 5 2/3 innings and allowed just the one unearned run. Reliever Chad Cullers got DeVore and the Utes out of a jam in the sixth. But Cullers hit a batter and walked one in the seventh, bringing closer Brett Bruneel out of the bullpen. Bruneel saw the two runners he inherited score in the seventh, but Utah still led 4-3 going into the eighth.

But New Mexico touched Bruneel for a pair of runs in both the eighth and ninth to go up 7-4. Geoff Wolfgramm finally came on to get the final two outs for Utah.

Utah faces Southern Utah on Tuesday at 3 p.m. at Ute Field.