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This weekend it’s softball’s turn to begin the MWC schedule.
New Mexico, coming off a doubleheader sweep of Siena on Sunday, kicks off its MWC slate Thursday with a three-game road trip against San Diego State. Thursday and Friday’s games will start at 7 p.m. MST in San Diego with Saturday’s finale at 2 p.m.
In conference play, New Mexico plays one three-game season against each MWC foe. The team will not have back-to-back road trips or consecutive home stands against league opponents, although the Lobos will have a nonconference doubleheader against Texas—El Paso on April 24 after three home games against Nevada.
First baseman Jordan Sjostrand said the team is ready to begin MWC play after going 16-20 in the nonconference schedule.
“We feel confident,” she said. “We’re going to start conference (this) week. Let’s just go do it.”
New Mexico sits in sixth place among the seven MWC softball schools, though every team has at least 14 wins. SDSU leads the way with a 19-12 nonconference record, followed by Nevada at 20-13, Fresno State at 19-14, Colorado State at 14-14 and Boise State at 14-17-1. UNLV is in last place at 14-18.
After losing most of its offensive firepower to graduation a year ago, UNM has struggled offensively.
The Lobos have the most at-bats of any MWC team but ranks last in the league in batting average (.237), slugging percentage (.302), on-base percentage (.307), runs batted in (96), doubles (21), home runs (10) and total bases (274). They have struck out more than any other MWC team: 225 times.
UNM has two players among the top 20 in batting average. Catcher Chelsea Anaya has a 13th-best .367 average and center fielder Mariah Rimmer is 17th at .348.
Nevada leads the conference in nearly every offensive category. The Wolf Pack is first in batting average (.328), slugging percentage (.527), on-base percentage (.420), runs scored (203), hits (294), runs batted in (190), doubles (68) and home runs (36).
The Lobos haven’t fared much better in on the mound. UNM’s pitchers have a combined 4.00 earned-run average, fifth-best in the MWC, in 229 and 1/3 innings pitched. The team is third in total strikeouts with 161, catching 52 batters looking.
Lauren Soles has emerged as UNM’s top pitcher. With a 7-8 record, she has 3.00 ERA and 77 strikeouts. Opposing teams have a .223 batting average against Soles. She had 12 strikeouts Sunday against Siena.
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“She really stepped up,” head coach Erica Beach said. “She’s still got a ways to go. She still has some room to grow, and she’ll be the first to tell you that.”
