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Baseball: Pitching carries Lobos to victory over Cal Poly

Matthew Narvaiz | February 17

It took an extra inning to do it, but a two-run single from junior outfielder Jeff Deimling, as well as a solid outing from sophomore reliever Nathaniel Garley, willed the University of New Mexico baseball team to its first win of the season over Cal Poly, 3-1, on Saturday in Surprise, Arizona. Senior outfielder Danny Collier led the 10th inning with a single, before a sac-bunt led to the Lobos’ first out. But junior outfielder Jared Mang laid down a bunt, which Cal Poly threw away, to put runners in scoring position. From there, Deimling connected on a pitch for a two-run single, ultimately giving his team the win. Deimling also scored the Lobos’ (1-1) lone run before winning the game, when he scored a runner on a fielder’s choice in the sixth inning.

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Baseball: Lobos fall to No. 2 Oregon State in season opener

Matthew Narvaiz | February 16

A strong fourth inning propelled No. 2 Oregon State to a 5-2 win over the University of New Mexico baseball team on Friday afternoon in Surprise, Arizona. The game was the Lobos’ season opener. But a combination of strong pitching and the Beavers’ high octane proved too much for the Lobos (0-1), as they were held to just four hits and were struck out seven times. The Beavers (1-0), on the other hand, recorded 10 hits, including two home runs and three doubles. Senior outfielder Danny Collier led off for the Lobos at the top of the first inning, though he swung at the first pitch and hit a flyout. Shortly after, junior shortstop Hayden Schilling was hit on the shoulder by a slider. But Oregon State senior pitcher Luke Heimlich found his groove after that mishap, and struck out junior outfielder Jared Mang while the catcher threw out Schilling trying to steal second.

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Baseball: Lobos tabbed as preseason favorite to win the Mountain West

Matthew Narvaiz | February 13

Another season, another prediction to win the Mountain West conference. The University of New Mexico baseball team picked up three of the seven votes from coaches across the conference, and racked up 31 points overall, to be the favorite to win the 2018 Mountain West title, according to a release from the conference on Tuesday. Of the seven votes, coaches are not allowed to choose their own teams. Instead, they must cast a vote for one of the other six schools.

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Baseball: Season preview, ‘Blue Collar’ Lobos await season ahead

Matthew Narvaiz | February 11

Blue-collar. That’s how senior Danny Collier described this new-look team, which features 17 freshmen as well as a few new transfers, marking a much different team than a season ago. “It’s always blue-collar,” Collier said. “We come out to the yard everyday, work hard, and that’s all you can do. What happens on the field happens on the field. But the work, the preparation that you bring to the table each day, that’s what’s gonna get you there.” It’s fitting, since the Lobos have lost the likes of Luis Gonzalez, Carl Stajduhar, Andre Vigil and Jack Zoellner —all who played integral roles at the plate and in their respective positions. And making up for those losses, means working harder as a collective unit. Still, UNM poses a plethora of power on the offensive end. Junior Jared Mang, who led the Lobos a season ago in batting average at .373, is back this season, while Collier (.328) and junior infielder Hayden Schilling (.317) are also notable returnees whose bats played an integral role.

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Sports

Baseball: Birmingham says recently released 2018 schedule may be hardest in nation

Matthew Narvaiz | October 26

With baseball season still off in the distance, the University of New Mexico baseball team has released its 2018 season schedule to the general public. And its schedule, some might say, is one of the hardest in the U.S. At least that’s what head coach Ray Birmingham said. “The Lobo baseball schedule is one of the hardest — if not the hardest — in the country,” Birmingham said in a UNM press release. “We plan on with this schedule to win conference and to play in regionals.”

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Baseball: Albuquerque Isotopes homer its way to victory in home finale

Aaron Cowan | September 1

The Albuquerque Isotopes dealt a loss to the Reno Aces, shutting them out 3-0 during the team's final home game Thursday at Isotopes Park. A near-capacity crowd of 12,234 attended to see the conclusion of the 15th season of Isotopes baseball, which extended its record to 39-32 in home games. According to the team website, Albuquerque is 66-71 and sits four and a half games behind El Paso in the Pacific Southern division.

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Baseball: Former Lobo joins "the show" after getting called up by Minnesota Twins

Cameron Goeldner | August 20

Former Lobo baseball player Mitch Garver was promoted to the Major Leagues by the Minnesota Twins late Thursday night. Garver was called up to take the place of outfielder Robbie Grossman, who was placed on the 10-day disabled list with a fractured thumb. So far this season, Garver is hitting .291 behind the plate with a .386 on base percentage and 541 slugging percentage. He has also cranked out 17 home runs and 45 RBI for the Triple-A Rochester Red Wings, according to baseball-reference.com.

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Baseball: Four Lobos selected in Major League Baseball draft

Robert Maler | June 19

The New Mexico baseball team did not earn a trip to the College World Series this season, but four Lobo players fulfilled what was surely a lifelong dream after being selected in the Major League Baseball draft last week. Head coach Ray Birmingham said he has had approximately 150 players become professionals throughout his coaching career, and he is extremely happy for each of them. Birmingham said he considers himself to be an old-school coach and wants to make sure his players are good students and good people, listing those qualities first before discussing the importance of what is done on the baseball field.

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Baseball: After second championship loss, Lobos finish season with 30-27-1 record

Matthew Narvaiz | May 28

The New Mexico baseball team’s Mountain West Championship is all but done. After losing Saturday afternoon’s elimination game to third-seeded Fresno State, 11-5, ultimately booted them from seeking a chance at the Mountain West Championship title. Despite the Lobos’ struggles and their post season hopes all but faded away, Hayden Schilling had an uplifting testimony for his team’s performance over the weekend. “We had a lot of adversity, but everyone in that dugout kept grinding and stayed the course,” Schilling said in a press release. “Not a single person gave up. That’s all you can ask for. I’m proud of how everyone attacked this weekend.”

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Baseball: Despite loss, Lobos have opportunity at elimination game

Matthew Narvaiz | May 27

It came down to a full count for late-season Lobo hero Matt Villalobos and his team, being down only one run in the bottom of the ninth inning — and then a strikeout ended it. But great pitching from San Diego State’s CJ Saylor sealed the deal for the second-seeded Aztecs, as they won the game Friday evening, 9-8, over the regular season Mountain West title holder Lobos. Even with the loss in the conference tournament, though, the Lobos will have the opportunity to face third-seeded Fresno State in an elimination game on Saturday afternoon. The game was a back-and-forth affair that saw the two high-caliber Mountain West teams tie the game on two separate occasions. Later, the Lobos even took control of the score in the early to middle innings, before San Diego State finished out strong.

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Baseball: Lobos overpower Nevada in game one of MW Championship

Matthew Narvaiz | May 26

The wind was howling on Thursday evening at Santa Ana Star Field, but the Lobos howled louder in their first Mountain West Championship game — their first competitor: fourth-seeded Nevada. Stellar pitching and great hitting all but sealed the deal for UNM (30-25-1), as they won, 7-2, over the Wolf Pack. That pitching for the Lobos, though, came from one hand in Tyler Stevens, who pitched all nine innings for UNM. The junior right-hander gave up just two runs on seven hits, while only walking two and striking out eight Nevada batters in the process. For Stevens, it was a game that rhythm kicked, and he found his location on seemingly every pitch. But that performance hinged on a day that Stevens felt better than ever.

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Baseball: Mountain West Baseball Championship to begin Thursday

Matthew Narvaiz | May 24

The Mountain West Baseball Championship will be decided this weekend as the University of New Mexico is set to host the tournament. New Mexico (29-25-1, 19-9-1 MW)—with a huge win to end the regular season and a little bit of good luck—managed to secure the regular season title. Their win over Nevada, paired with a loss by then-No. 1 San Diego State at home to Fresno State, allowed the Lobos to pursue the postseason title from the comfort of home. when they defeated Nevada and when San Diego State lost, ultimately putting the Lobos ahead of the pack and giving them the chance to have home field advantage, as they host the tournament.

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Baseball: Lobos come from behind to defeat Nevada and take back first place

Matthew Narvaiz | May 21

New Mexico baseball gave away first place on Friday night, but San Diego State gave it right back the next day with a Lobo win and an Aztec loss that flip-flopped the order to finish the regular season. All it took for the Lobos to win Saturday afternoon over Nevada was three home runs in the seventh inning and some great relief pitching from Johnathon Tripp to top the Wolf Pack, 13-6. The win came at Santa Ana Star Field and, after the Aztecs lost 11-2 to Fresno State, it ensured that more games would be played at the Lobos’ home field. Despite losing five straight games, the win in the season finale elevated the Lobos (29-25-1, 19-9-1 MW) to the regular season Mountain West title. While San Diego State (38-18, 21-10 MW) finished percentage points behind.

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Sports

Baseball: Lobos lose fifth straight, and perhaps the right to host postseason tournament

Robert Maler | May 20

About two weeks ago, it appeared to be a sure bet that Lobo baseball would be hosting the 2017 Baseball Championship for the Mountain West conference. But five straight losses have knocked UNM from the perch atop the conference standings after it fell 17-9 at home to Nevada on Friday night. That, coupled with a win by San Diego State on Friday, vaulted the Aztecs to the top position—which puts them in line to host the postseason tournament instead. New Mexico, which is now percentage points behind San Diego State, can still reclaim the No. 1 seed. But it must win on Saturday and hope for a loss by the Aztecs in order to do so.

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Baseball: Lobos drop game one against Nevada, but remain atop MW standings

Matthew Narvaiz | May 18

The Mountain West regular season title seems to be slipping through the grasp of the University of New Mexico baseball team, as they lost the first of a three game home series to Nevada at Santa Ana Star Field, 5-2 Thursday evening. The Lobos (28-24-1, 18-8-1 MW) were fortunate enough to hold onto first place in the conference standings for the moment, after San Diego State was shut out 4-0 in its opening game against Fresno State on Thursday. New Mexico tallied just five hits as a team, with the bulk of those coming from Carl Stajduhar and Danny Collier, each of whom banged out two hits. Stajduhar also added an RBI and run score to his stat line, while Collier was responsible for bringing home the other run. The other other Lobo player to register a hit was Hayden Schilling, who went 1-for-4 at the plate.

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Baseball: Lobos enter final weekend series clinging to slim lead in conference standings

Matthew Narvaiz | May 18

The New Mexico baseball team will enter the final regular season series leading the Mountain West conference standings by percentage points, but the Lobos are still faced with some difficult circumstances. Senior first baseman Jack Zoellner fractured his metacarpal bone after being hit by a pitch at Fresno State last weekend. And the Lobos found themselves only a half game above second place San Diego State, after UNM (28-23-1, 18-7-1 MW) was swept at Fresno State and San Diego State won a series at Air Force. Unfortunately for Zoellner, both he and head coach Ray Birmingham came to the conclusion that he'll be out for the rest of the season, including the Lobos’ hopeful push into the postseason.

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Baseball: Fresno State sweeps Lobos, putting No. 1 MW spot in jeopardy

Matthew Narvaiz | May 14

Playing Fresno State in a three-game series this weekend didn’t bring the best of luck for the University of New Mexico baseball team. After losing both game one on Friday and game two on Saturday, the Lobos (28-23-1, 18-7-1 MW) were swept by the Fresno State Bulldogs — UNM lost game three on Sunday, 15-9, at Bob Bennett Stadium in Fresno, California. The loss puts the Lobos in an odd position, meaning that they will have to win each of their last three games of the season to clinch the Mountain West regular season title, as they now only lead second-place San Diego State by one game. For Fresno State, they clinched a spot in the Mountain West tournament after sweeping UNM, while also maintaining a third place standing in the conference.

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Baseball: Lobos miss opportunity to reduce magic number, fall to Fresno State

Matthew Narvaiz | May 13

The University of New Mexico took one step forward and one step back in game one of a three-game series at Fresno State. The Lobos are now one game closer towards the end of the season, but on Friday evening, the Bulldogs won, 9-3, during a critical Mountain West game, which can affect the Lobos’ first place standing if they continue to lose throughout the remainder of the season. However, that step back was shortened when San Diego State lost to Air Force on Friday evening, meaning UNM (28-21-1, 18-15-1 MW) has to win three games to clinch the regular season title instead of four, as previously reported. The loss for the Lobos, however, came by way of nine unanswered runs spread across four separate innings from Fresno State.

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Baseball: Lobos have promising weekend ahead at Fresno State

Matthew Narvaiz | May 11

The University of New Mexico baseball team will visit Fresno State over the weekend in a three-game series in the hopes of keeping atop the Mountain West standings. In the Lobos’ last six games, four wins will help them clinch the title of Mountain West regular season champs. But four San Diego State losses—that team is now in second place—can also help UNM. New Mexico (28-20-1, 18-4-1 MW) enters the series at 2-2 in the month of May, losing two home games: one to New Mexico State, the other to Air Force during a series opener. Still, UNM is looking good in its last two outings against the Falcons, winning game two 17-10 and game three 11-6.

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Baseball: Gonzalez shines in 11-6 Lobo win over Air Force

Matthew Narvaiz | May 7

Luis Gonzalez did it all for the Lobos on Sunday afternoon—pitching brilliantly and nearly hitting for the cycle. The junior outfielder/pitcher got the start on the mound for New Mexico (28-20-1, 18-4-1 MW) as well as played the part of designated hitter on offense, leading the Lobos to an 11-6 win and pick up the series victory over Air Force. Not only did Gonzalez go seven strong innings on the mound—allowing six runs on 11 hits, striking out six and walking one—he paced the Lobos’ offense, with a near-perfect performance, going 3-for-4 with three runs and three RBI. Gonzalez singled, doubled and hit a homerun, finishing a triple shy of the cycle.