Maybe it's the slight variation between the school colors - red and maroon.
Maybe it's because NMSU is so close to El Paso, and the Aggies come in with a Texas-sized chip on their shoulders.
Or maybe - with the Rio Grande Rivalry as an added incentive - the Lobos and Aggies just want to get their hands on those state bragging rights.
Whatever it might be, first-year head coach Ray Birmingham knew the two-game series against the Aggies at Isotopes Park was an important one. And so he preached to his team before they took the field Tuesday.
"Gentlemen, this is Aggies versus Lobos," he said. "There is never a light moment in this series. You didn't show me energy during batting practice. You better get out there and show it during the game."
But when the Lobos scored just two runs, Birmingham's fears were realized.
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"The lights just weren't on for us," he said. "They were chasing bad pitches. They were popping up."
Meanwhile, the Aggies' offense connected with just about everything and won Tuesday's game 15-2.
UNM bounced back and defeated NMSU 13-1 on Wednesday, but not before dealing with a disgruntled coach.
"I thought I was going to have an aneurysm," Birmingham said. "You could hear a pin drop in that locker room, and then I just went ballistic. It was probably one of my top-five butt-chewing's of all-time."
After absorbing Birmingham's ear-pounding spiel Tuesday, the Lobos took the field Wednesday hoping to turn things around.
Making his first start of the season, right-handed pitcher Daniel Grubbs posted some impressive numbers for the Lobos.
After giving up a leadoff triple to Aggie second baseman Bryan Marquez --- who scored the Aggies' lone run of the game - Grubbs gave up only three more hits and no more runs.
Birmingham got a preview of Grubbs when he coached New Mexico Junior College, so he never doubted the first-year pitcher would be effective against NMSU.
"He played for Western Nevada at the time we played against him in the World Series," he said. "We just got by him, but I remember he didn't have overpowering stuff, but the guy could pitch. And tonight, he came out there and was a bulldog."
Behind a UNM hit-fest and aided by Grubbs' arm, the Lobos routed the Aggies 13-1.
Matt Hibbitts, Rafael Neda and Bobby Moore all got in on the fun.
The three hitters were a combined 8-of-15 from the plate.
Hibbitts and Neda also had two RBIs as the Lobos, seated in the director's chair, flipped and reversed the script, making Wednesday's 13-1 Lobo victory a reversal of Tuesday's 15-2 Aggie drubbing.
With the win, UNM improved to 14-10 while remaining at 3-3 in the Mountain West Conference.
All things aside, Birmingham said the Lobos' season, much like the grass in Isotopes Park, seems to be growing greener by the days.
"I'm encouraged about this program," he said. "These kids have been through a very tough schedule. And for them to be 14-10, you have to tip your hat to them."
