by Daniel Schrader
Daily Lobo
UNM baseball has been beating up on Air Force. The Lobos have won 13 straight contests against the Falcons, whom they host this weekend for a three-game series.
Air Force (5-23, 0-9 MWC) is having a bad season. The team is coming off a three-game series against Utah, which left the Falcons still searching for their first Mountain West Conference win.
"They're still D-I, and I still think they're going to be a good team," said freshman infielder and pitcher Jordan Pacheco.
The Lobos lead the all-time series with the Falcons at 85 wins and 35 losses. These two teams have been competing since 1957.
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The Lobos, who swept Utah earlier this month, are coming off a disappointing road loss to the New Mexico State Aggies on Tuesday night.
"I don't think the loss at New Mexico State really affected us too much," said sophomore outfielder and first baseman Chris Carlson. "We played a great game, and if we give it that same effort every time, we should be pleased. We just can't let down."
The loss ended season play between the two in-state clubs at an even 3-3 record.
The Lobos will also possibly have Mountain West Conference leaders UNLV (9-3 in the MWC) and Brigham Young (10-2 in the MWC) in their sights if they can take care of business against Air Force this weekend.
"Right now I think we're the best team in the Mountain West," Carlson said. "We've just had a couple of unlucky breaks. If we keep playing as hard as we have been, the rest will take care of itself."
UNM (16-18, 6-6 in the MWC) is in third place in the MWC standings.
Sophomore first baseman Daniel Stovall won National Co-Hitter of the Week honors last year after facing Air Force.
"I couldn't tell you too much about any changes in Air Force's pitching, but I still have the same plan," Stovall said. "It's conference weekend, and we're always looking to be successful."
Stovall went 12-15 (.800) with three homers and seven RBIs in the 2004 performance against the Falcons.
The UNM squad is leading the nation in triples with a tally of 24. Leading that attack is senior outfielder Garrick Haymore, who ranks fifth in the nation with six triples.
"Most of my hits happen to be low line drives, and that definitely helps with my triples," Haymore said. "As a team, our good hitters are just fast."
Senior right-hander Jason Fernandez will be taking the mound in tonight's first home game in this three-game-series. Fernandez is tied for first in the MWC with five wins.
Tomorrow's 6 p.m. game at Isotopes Park will be Pack the Park Night. Tickets will be $2 and the first 300 fans will receive a Lobo baseball keychain.
"I think we had 5,400 people at last year's Pack the Park night," Lobo head coach Rich Alday said. "It depends on the weather, but I think the post-game fireworks show will bring a lot of people out."
