After losing five straight games over the past week — all on the road — New Mexico (11-8, 6-0 Mountain West) will try to get back to its winning ways during a two-game home series with Grand Canyon University (5-12) that begins on Tuesday.
Last week, the Lobos faced a tough team in Oklahoma State in a two-game series and were held to zero runs while tallying only four total hits.
The Lobos were more competitive in a three-game weekend series at Cal State Fullerton, losing by one run in each of the three contests. The Titans were ranked No. 7 by Baseball America, while OSU was ranked No. 23.
Unlike the OSU games, the Lobos were able to compete with CSU Fullerton. The first game of the series was a pitching duel as UNM gave up only three hits, though the Titans got to New Mexico in the middle innings en route to a 2-1 victory.
On Saturday, UNM was able to grab a 4-1 lead in the fourth inning, but CSU Fullerton rallied for a 5-4 win. And then on Sunday, the Lobos allowed the Titans to rack up nine hits, though those only tallied up to one run. CSU Fullerton would win 1-0, sweeping UNM in the process.
UNM’s next opponent in GCU is also coming off of some tough losses, having lost four straight entering the series. Those losses include two to Pepperdine, one to Long Beach State and one to University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
One thing the Antelopes have done is win a series over OSU — GCU bested the Cowboys by winning two of three games at home in Phoenix, Arizona.
GCU is hitting .271 as a team and they are led by Austin Bull who is batting a team-high .341 at the plate, while also logging four RBI and 13 runs scored. Two others — Cuba Bess and Ian Evans — are hitting over .300 for the ballclub. Both have seven runs apiece, and Evans has racked up a team-high 13 RBI so far this season.
Though hitting has been nearly absent in the Lobos’ past five games, they still boast eye-popping as a team and for individual players. Junior Luis Gonzalez leads UNM, batting an astounding .447 at the plate with three home runs, two triples, 10 doubles, 15 RBI and 22 runs.
Redshirt sophomore Hayden Schilling — who has played in 11 games and started seven — is hitting .375 at the plate. Senior Jack Zoellner has put up impressive numbers of his own, as he is hitting .354 at the plate with a team-high seven home runs, seven doubles, 23 RBI and 15 runs.
Pitching for both teams hasn’t seen the same success in the early going.
Excluding a 13-0 blowout to OSU, the Lobos’ pitching staff managed an impressive 2.25 ERA in its four other games during their losing streak. They still hold a 5.12 ERA for the season.
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GCU isn’t any better, sitting with a 5.25 ERA in 2017.
The Antelopes plan to start two new pitchers on the mound at UNM in Jack Schneider and Bobby Milacki, two pitchers who have served as relievers thus far this season. Schneider has appeared in one game pitching 1.1 innings and has a 6.75 ERA, while Milacki has appeared in six games and six innings, posting a 10.50 ERA .
The two-game series kicks off at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday at the Santa Ana Star Field. The game will be broadcasted live on ESPN Radio 101.7 The TEAM.
Matthew Narvaiz is a sports reporter for the Daily Lobo. He mainly covers women’s basketball and baseball. He can be reached at sports@dailylobo.com or on Twitter @matt_narvaiz.
