New Mexico will return to league play this weekend against UNLV after taking to the road the past six games. Across those six games on the road, the Lobos only dropped a one-game series against Texas Tech, while the squad was able to sweep Sacramento State on Tuesday, and nearly completed a sweep over SDSU over the weekend.
New Mexico finished up its two game stint on the road against Sacramento State, completing the early week sweep over the hornets in a 12-3 rout. The Lobos (17-8, 7-2 MW) who have been on a tear as of late, have won 11 of their last 14 contests, dropping only a one-game series in the process.
New Mexico returns to league play following a high-scoring affair in Lubbock, Texas. Texas Tech jumped all over UNM starter James Harrington, who only lasted 2.1 innings in a 14-10 loss on the road. Harrington threw 61 pitches, allowing eight runs, five of which were earned.
New Mexico brought out the brooms on the back of left-handed pitcher Colton Thomson's gem of a game in an 11-1 rout over San Jose State on Sunday. The game was sailing along in what looked to be a pitchers’ duel between Thomson and Josh Nashed (0-4). However, a rocky 7th inning for Nashed ruined any shot of a Spartan comeback. While every pitcher would like to have the backing of the offense, Thomson received more than enough in this blowout victory in the final game of the series. The seven run bottom of the seventh proved to be plenty for Thomson (2-1), who shut down SJSU in his eight innings pitched, his longest career outing.
New Mexico’s bat wasn’t as flamboyant as in the first game of the series, but Tyler Stevens tossed a gem to take the series. Granted, UNM jumped on SJSU first on Saturday with two runs in the bottom of the first, but it was Steven who fueled the Lobos in the second conference series of the year.
New Mexico’s bats sealed the deal for the squad again as a late eighth inning rally pushed UNM over San Jose State in the series opener. The Lobos and Spartans (6-11, 2-4 MW) headed into the eighth inning locked up at 6-6, when a single and a double at the bottom half of the inning gave UNM the final three runs of the contest and a victory.
Just a weekend after being swept by Dallas Baptist, the Lobos had a chance on Sunday to the same against Nevada. Although the Lobos couldn’t win the final game in Reno, Nevada, UNM took the conference opening series by winning two of the three games against the Wolfpack.
New Mexico didn’t get off to the start it wanted on Tuesday, and paid the price despite assembling a late rally. In the bottom of the third, UNM (6-5) found itself in a 7-0 hole to start, something the potent offense could never quite recover from as the squad fell to NMSU 9-6. The contest was played on a neutral site in El Paso, Texas.
Less than a week entering the nation’s top 25, the Lobos couldn’t generate a win and have fallen out of the Collegiate Baseball Newspaper’s national rankings. However, Dallas Baptist completed a sweep over New Mexico this weekend and have now entered the nation’s elite teams.
The No. 24 New Mexico baseball team knew it would have its hands full with Dallas Baptist coming into town. The Lobos’ offense has been outstanding giving the team’s starting pitching plenty of cushion to work with. However, in the opening game of a three game stand against the Patriots (6-3), the offense fell quiet against DBU’s starter, Collin Poche.
New Mexico isn’t satisfied with just an entry among the nation’s best 25 teams. Head coach Ray Birmingham said it doesn’t mean much at this point in the season and that New Mexico warrants talks of being a premier team each season.
New Mexico has gotten off to a scorching start in the 2016 campaign and has received national attention because of it. Per the Collegiate Baseball Newspaper, the Lobos are now ranked amongst the top 25, coming in at No. 24 to start the week.
New Mexico’s offense again paved the way for New Mexico as the Lobos snagged the series sweep against Wichita State on Sunday afternoon. The offense was able to produce eight runs to support UNM’s starting pitcher James Harrington in his second win of the season as the Lobos garnered an 8-6 victory in the final game. New Mexico (6-1) has facilitated at least six runs in each win this season. Over the weekend, UNM plated at least eight runs in each game during the three-game home opening stretch.
It took a while for New Mexico’s bats to wake up, but when they finally did, runs came pouring in as the Lobos defeated Wichita State 8-4 on Saturday. Saturday afternoon’s game moved at quite a different pace than Friday night’s 17-7 win over the visiting Shockers.
Carson Schneider garnered his second win of the season, but it was UNM’s offensive firepower that stole the show in a 17-7 rout over Wichita State Friday night at Santa Ana Star Field. Schneider (2-0) had plenty of offense to back up his two-run, six inning night. Designated hitter Chris DeVito led the way for UNM’s dominant outing at the plate.
A short week to get readjusted to Land of Enchantment is in store for New Mexico as the team prepares for its home opener against Wichita State this weekend. The Lobos (3-1) took home its first series in Hawaii since 1985 on Monday, but the players are still reeling from jet lag after arriving back in Albuquerque on Tuesday.
New Mexico hadn’t won a series in Hawai’i in over 20 years. That streak came to a halt during UNM’s 7-1 victory over the Rainbow Warriors on Monday. The victory was the final in a four game stint against Hawai’i as the Lobos improved to 3-1 to begin their season.
The sun was shining, the thermostat read mid-60s and the New Mexico players dressed in turquoise uniforms were all smiles during what felt like a midseason day at Santa Ana Star Field on Friday. UNM head coach Ray Birmingham said on baseball media day that the goal remains the same: to put another Mountain West championship year on the outfield wall. This year, Birmingham has a lot of confidence as the baseball season is set to begin in Hawaii on Friday, he said. The big thing that Birmingham said stands out is the atmosphere in the locker room.
Just a day before New Mexico’s first practice on Friday afternoon, D1baseball.com announced its Mountain West preseason predictions. The Lobos were atop that list. After grinding out last season with numerous injuries, the Lobos were still just one swing away from making the postseason. The 2015 season snapped a four consecutive season streak of New Mexico taking home the conference trophy.
UNM baseball head coach Ray Birmingham has been well-endowed as a firm believer in helping out the state of New Mexico. The Land of Enchantment has honored the Hobbs native by electing Birmingham to the New Mexico Sports Hall of Fame on Saturday. He will be formally introduced as one of eight members inducted during a banquet on April 3, 2016.
Solutions by The State News
