Last weekend at Isotopes Park was hectic for the UNM baseball team.
UNM pitcher Will Kerr threw a complete game, and Brian Cavazos-Galvez broke out of his early season struggles as the Lobos swept Vermont in a four-game series, improving to 18-10.
Coach Ray Birmingham said it was important that his team didn't underestimate its opponent.
"Vermont is a good team, and they play fundamental baseball," he said. "I didn't want these guys to think, 'Oh, we have been playing Arizona State, California and Texas Tech. We'll just throw ourselves out there.'"
Early on, the Lobos did exactly what Birmingham prophesized - not taking Vermont lightly.
In Friday's first game, UNM was down 3-1 heading into the bottom of the sixth before Cavazos-Galvez - who went 4-for-4 on the day - sparked a big inning.
Get content from The Daily Lobo delivered to your inbox
After Matt Hibbitts was walked to start off the inning, Cavazos-Galvez doubled to score Hibbitts.
From there it was all Lobos, as they went on to win 12-3.
Birmingham said Kerr's performance took a lot of pressure off the Lobo bullpen.
"I think Will can pitch in the big leagues," he said. "When he goes after people, he's extremely good. And if he doesn't panic, he's great. The thing I have to do, though, is continue to be on Will so that he will pitch in the big leagues."
On Saturday, the Lobos took a 3-0 series lead with back-to-back wins in a doubleheader.
UNM won both games, 9-4.
Cavazos-Galvez followed up Friday's 4-for-4 performance with another big day.
He went 2-for-5 from the plate and scored twice in Saturday's first game.
Birmingham, who brought Cavazos-Galvez with him from New Mexico Junior College, said it was nice to see the junior have a break-out game.
"Galvez is like my son," he said. "What people don't remember is Brian is a two-time All-American who didn't get drafted. So, he came back to his hometown, and I got on TV and said it was my fault. But Brian just didn't handle it. He imposed too much pressure on himself. What I had to do was get him to relax, and now you see how great a player he is."
In the second leg of the doubleheader, Cavazos-Galvez had another 4-for-4 performance, scoring three runs and recording an RBI.
After the game, Cavazos-Galvez talked about his relationship with Birmingham and how he helped him get out of the funk.
"We're so close, I think we can finish each others sentences," he said. "When I'm about to tell him something, he's thinking the same thing and vice-versa. While I was struggling, he just kept encouraging me and telling me to relax."
Rallying behind Cavazos-Galvez, the Lobos closed out the series, beating the Catamounts 8-3 on Sunday.
Birmingham said the fundamentals he preached early in the year are starting to pay off for some of his players.
"Earlier in the year, a lot of guys were getting jammed early in the count," he said. "We have spent extra time in practice working on that, and it's evident some of these guys have gotten better at picking and choosing their pitches."
Baseball vs. Albuquerque Isotopes
Tuesday, 6 p.m.
Isotopes Park
