There is plenty at stake this weekend as New Mexico and Fresno State prepare to do battle for the top spot in the Mountain West.
Head coach Ray Birmingham is not shying away from the major implications of this weekend’s three game home-stand against the Bulldogs.
“We haven’t played our best baseball yet,” Birmingham said. “We’re waiting for that to click.”
Birmingham said the Lobos are battling injuries, but the squad has shown it can work through adversity. The head coach said UNM is ready to go for what is its biggest series yet.
In anticipation of the Bulldogs, Birmingham said he has created a student section in order to get more people out to Santa Ana Star Field to create an electric atmosphere.
“It’s a big weekend. I want all of the student body from the campus to be here,” Birmingham said.
New Mexico will install seating for fans behind the right field wall in order to create a rowdier environment, according to the head coach. New Mexico’s usually home park only has bleachers behind home plate with select viewing opportunities along each of the foul lines.
Birmingham hopes the new seating can help in more ways than one.
“I’m planning on making a special area behind the right field wall. I need to show them that I’m making the effort,” Birmingham said. “I’m spending some money to make a student section behind the right field wall where they can party in the parking lot and stand behind the right field wall so they can hassle the other team from here on out.”
After Tuesday night’s 3-2 victory over NMSU, the Lobos and Bulldogs have identical records as they both sit at 20-9 and 9-3 against conference opponents.
UNM beat the Aggies (17-12) to even up the Rio Grande Rivalry record 1-1, at a game that was played at a neutral site in Roswell, New Mexico. The Lobos fell to NMSU 9-6 in El Paso, Texas in the previous meeting.
“It was a good game for Roswell, New Mexico,” Birmingham said. “It was a packed ballpark with standing room only and it was just really good for New Mexico baseball.”
Get content from The Daily Lobo delivered to your inbox
Catcher/designated hitter Chris DeVito continued his slugging tear by plating the winning run in the contest with a single in the seventh inning.
The junior has the most hits (47), RBIs (41), and homers (8) in the Mountain West. His .416 average is second in the league.
Southpaw Luis Gonzalez didn’t receive the victory after allowing just one run over his six innings of one-run ball. The outfielder/pitcher also collected a hit at the top of the lineup for UNM.
The Lobos likely won’t call on Gonzalez for work on the rubber, leaving him in center so he can focus on reaching base. The Bulldogs have the lowest ERA in the Mountain West by far allowing just 2.9 runs per nine innings. The next closest is Air Force, whose pitching staff is allowing 4.22 runs per contest.
Fresno’s exquisite pitching will meet a potent lineup in the Lobos as UNM is averaging just over 7.6 runs per game, the best in the Mountain West.
Birmingham has said throughout the season that defense and pitching will be the ticket to Omaha. New Mexico is allowing just under five runs per game, good for fourth best in the league.
Come Friday night at 6 p.m., the Lobos hope to score often and pitch well as the battle for first place commences.
“I hope it’s packed,” Birmingham said, “and I hope we kick their butt.”
Liam Cary-Eaves is the sports editor for the Daily Lobo. He primarily covers volleyball, women’s basketball and baseball. He can be reached at sports@dailylobo.com or on Twitter @Liam_CE.
