This weekend could prove grueling for the Lobos (0-2-1) as they head to the Domino's Pizza Aggie Classic at Texas A&M. Over the next three days, UNM will play six games, three against the No. 20 Aggies (7-0), and three against undefeated Arkansas (6-0).
How does head coach Rich Alday feel about this early-season epic?
"Not good," he said. "We're not really where we want to be as far as pitching goes. Our depth isn't great, and we're going to have to throw a lot of pitchers."
Alday said there are definite advantages to facing such potent teams so early in the season. UNM fell to no. 23 Nebraska 12-8 in its second game this season.
"I suppose we could go 0-6 easily this weekend, but it's good to go play them and really find out where we're at," he said.
It's hard to tell how UNM will play as a squad after its scattered season start last weekend. The Lobos' first game was a blowout loss to Kent State in which UNM's pitching was dominated by opposing hitters.
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Its second contest was the tough loss to Nebraska where shaky defense turned out to be the difference.
Game three of last weekend's tournament was a bizarre tie with Northwestern. The game was called, with the teams tied, so the Wildcats could catch their flight home.
Alday said the team needs to make some improvements in order to pick up its first win.
"We've got to play better defense," he said. "We need to combine better defense with good pitching."
One bright spot in the winless first weekend was the performance of junior centerfielder Matt Young who was named Mountain West Conference player of the week.
Young hit 6-11 last weekend with two triples, four RBI and six runs scored. In the season opener, he set a new career-high with four hits.
"Matt played really well," Alday said, contributing from the field with five putouts and no errors.
On top of his great hitting, Alday said Young also played well defensively.
Young may not be able to maintain his conference-leading batting average of .545, or his .909 slugging, but for now he's off to a fantastic start.
The rest of the team will have to pick up its game to get some wins out of this weekend's tourney. Arkansas's pitching has been dominant this year - its overall team ERA is 2.00.
Texas A&M has been even more impressive. On offense, the team hit a collective .357, and the team ERA is even more daunting than UA's at just 1.89.
