PHOENIX (Interstat) — The New Mexico Lobos snapped a two-game losing streak to the Grand Canyon Antelopes with an 11-9 victory Sunday afternoon at Phoenix Municipal Stadium, overcoming a five-run deficit with a six-run fifth inning that proved decisive in the Mountain West contest.

New Mexico improved to 26-22-1 while Grand Canyon fell to 19-29. The Lobos tallied 11 hits and the Antelopes had 14, but two double plays by Grand Canyon helped limit damage.

Grand Canyon struck first in the bottom of the second inning, scoring five runs off New Mexico starter Alvarez. After a leadoff single by Tanner Johns and a single by Cam, Mito Perez delivered a two-run double and Trevor Schmidt followed with a two-run home run, his 10th of the season, giving the Antelopes a 5-0 lead. New Mexico answered with a run in the top of the fourth on RBI singles from Brodey Williams and Ethan Waslefsky, plus a sacrifice fly by Diaz, cutting the deficit to 5-3.

The pivotal moment came in the top of the fifth. After Grand Canyon starter Garrett Ahern was lifted for reliever Higginbottom, New Mexico’s offense erupted. Akili Carris singled, Mansy was hit by a pitch, and Trujillo walked to load the bases. Williams singled to score Carris, and Ashby was hit by a pitch to force in Mansy. A wild pitch from Robb, who replaced Higginbottom, allowed Trujillo to score and Williams to advance. Miller was then hit by a pitch to force in Williams, and Walker singled up the middle to score Ashby. Carris doubled down the left-field line to drive in Waslefsky and Miller, and Mansy grounded out to first to bring home Walker, completing a six-run inning that gave New Mexico an 11-5 lead. Cam Cunnings entered for Grand Canyon and recorded two strikeouts while allowing two hits over 4 2/3 scoreless innings.

Grand Canyon mounted a comeback in the bottom of the seventh. With runners on first and second and one out, pinch hitter Huff singled to score Peery. After a pitching change to Barnhouse, Johns crushed his fourth home run of the season, a three-run shot to right field that brought the Antelopes within 11-9. But the rally stalled when Bates flied out to center.

New Mexico’s bullpen held firm. Ty Cunningham pitched two scoreless innings, allowing no hits and striking out one, to earn the save. Ethin Woltz worked 3 2/3 innings, giving up three earned runs while striking out two, and took the win. For Grand Canyon, Johns led the offense by going 4 for 5 with a home run and three RBIs. Schmidt was 3 for 5 with a home run and two RBIs. Williams went 3 for 5 with two RBIs for New Mexico, and Carris was 2 for 5 with two RBIs.

The game was the third and final meeting of the weekend series, following Grand Canyon’s 4-3 win Saturday and 6-5 win in 10 innings Friday. New Mexico returns home Tuesday to face New Mexico State while Grand Canyon hosts Arizona State on Tuesday before traveling to Nevada for a three-game series starting Thursday.

Interstat’s game simulator projected a final score of Grand Canyon 4, New Mexico 3, and the ELO system gave Grand Canyon a 61.60 percent probability to win.