ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (Interstat) — Aidan Brainard delivered a masterful six-inning no-hit start and Jacob Doyle launched two solo home runs as the Nevada Wolf Pack held off a late rally to defeat the New Mexico Lobos 3-2 on Friday night in a Mountain West Conference series opener.

The Wolf Pack, who entered as underdogs according to Interstat’s projections, improved to 18-14 overall. The Lobos fell to 22-14-1.

The story of the night was Brainard’s dominance. The Nevada starter was untouchable, striking out seven and walking three over six innings without allowing a hit. He faced the minimum through three innings and worked out of his only significant jam in the third. After loading the bases with two outs via a walk and two hit batters, Brainard froze New Mexico’s T.J. Williams with a looking strikeout to end the threat and preserve a 3-0 lead.

Nevada’s offense provided all its support early against New Mexico starter Cristian Mogen. Doyle crushed the first pitch of the second inning over the right-field wall. Later in the frame, Jake Yamaguchi doubled and scored on a two-out, RBI single by Jake Harvey to make it 2-0.

Doyle struck again in the third, sending another solo shot to right for his second homer of the game, finishing 3 for 4 with two RBIs. Mogen took the loss, allowing three runs on seven hits over five innings.

The Lobos’ offense was stifled until Brainard departed. In the seventh, Akili Carris led off with a double against reliever Eric Valdez, breaking up the combined no-hit bid. Carris eventually scored on a sacrifice fly by Jackson Waslefsky to cut the deficit to 3-1.

New Mexico mounted a serious threat in the ninth against Nevada closer Dominic Desch. After a leadoff groundout, Javen Walker singled and moved to second on a walk. Alex Ashby delivered a two-out RBI single to center, scoring Walker and moving the tying run to second base.

Nevada then turned to Andres Castro, who walked the first batter he faced to load the bases. With the winning run on second, Castro struck out cleanup hitter Diego Garcia swinging on a full count to end the game and secure the save.

Josh Barnhouse provided excellent relief for New Mexico, tossing three scoreless innings with two strikeouts to keep the Lobos within reach.

The most critical sequence of the game was Brainard’s bases-loaded strikeout in the third inning. With Nevada leading 3-0 and the Lobos threatening to change the game’s momentum, Brainard’s clutch pitch to Williams stranded three runners and maintained the Wolf Pack’s firm control of the contest until the late innings.

The teams continue the three-game series Saturday.