Just days after New Mexico took down Fresno State to claim the top spot in the Mountain West, UNM got off to a rough start in its trip to California on Tuesday night. In the mid-week game against Santa Clara, New Mexico starter/leadoff hitter Luis Gonzalez (2-1) ran into quite a bit of trouble early in the contest, as the club fell 13-7.
After a week off, the Lobos took a trip to California and swept another weekend on the road. New Mexico (16-4) is now riding a five game winning streak, and have won 13 of its past 14 contests.
When two teams are locked up in a first place showdown mid-season, it is normally a time for big-time players to shine. This week, two New Mexico players received all-conference honors for their performances, which contributed to a sweep over Fresno State last weekend.
The New Mexico women’s tennis team picked a perfect time to peak, picking up a pair of victories on the road to remain unbeaten in conference play. UNM started its road trip at the Appleton Tennis Center against Boise State on Friday. The schools traded wins in the first two doubles matches, but the Lobos netted the first point when Dominique Dulski and Emily Olivier closed out their match, 6-3 to go up 1-0 in the team score.
New Mexico was rained out in California, but the men’s tennis team shined on Sunday with an upset victory over Tulsa. New Mexico traveled to face San Diego State on Thursday, but the weather had different ideas. Head coach Bart Scott said the schools are working with each other and the conference to see when, or if, the match can be made up.
New Mexico’s track and field team, led by its jumpers and sprinters, continued to turn in solid performances as it competed in a much larger field at the Sun Angel Classic in Tempe, Arizona over the weekend. Several athletes saw success in the second meet of the season. Peri Moran finished 13th in the women’s 100-meter dash with a time of 12.48, with Samantha Woodman, who placed 14th, right next to her at 12.49. Woodman also placed 22nd in the 200-meter dash at 25.74. On the men’s side, Ridge Jones ran a 10.82 in the 100 to finish 15th, while Carlos Salcido finished 26th with a time of 11.09. The pair also competed in the 200-meter dash, placing 19th (21.99) and 23rd (22.12), respectively.
The Lobos seem to be flourishing this spring. Four matches against four different opponents and the UNM men’s soccer team has yet to walk away with a loss.
An already underwhelming weekend came to an even more disappointing end, as New Mexico was blown out 11-1 by the mercy rule in five innings, completing a sweep by No. 23 Fresno State on Sunday. Things did not go well for the Lobos all afternoon, as UNM gave up at least one run in all five innings and switched pitchers three times. “We made way too many mistakes pitching. We made way too many lazy mistakes on defense today that ended up costing us,” head coach Erica Beach said.
“I think he’s the first guy that I’ve ever coached that has a tongue ring ... he’s a unique guy,” said dead coach Bob Davie of defensive lineman Johnny Williams. He said it is just one of many interesting things that make Williams a renaissance man and “a real dude”. The defensive lineman plays with a high motor all the time. Davie said he had to tell him three times during practice not to tackle guys in the no-contact drills. His personality appears to be just as intense as his play, perhaps even more. Williams, 24, took a unique path on his way back to the football field and the classroom. He said he competed in MMA for three years at his hometown of Hemet, California.
Fresno State has not enjoyed much success in Albuquerque. The Bulldogs are now just 1-14 when playing UNM on its home turf following Sunday’s 7-4 loss to the Lobos. “Fresno hates to come here,” head coach Ray Birmingham said.
An early lead was not enough for New Mexico in game two against No. 23 Fresno State on Saturday as the Lobos fell to Fresno State 2-1. Despite being up 2-1 heading into the sixth, UNM was unable to hold the slim lead, dropping the series against the Bulldogs.
A late comeback, extra innings and a wild finish garnered a series win for New Mexico during Saturday afternoon’s 14-13 win over Fresno State. Unlike the opening game of UNM’s three-game home stand, the game went to the offensive side as the Lobos homered six times and collected 11 extra-base hits during Saturday’s four-hour and one-minute contest. The Bulldogs collected five extra-base hits on the day to put up their 13 runs.
New Mexico took sole possession of first place in the Mountain West after Friday night’s 2-1 victory over Fresno State. However, that doesn’t mean much as the Bulldogs will remain in town for the weekend with the intent to surpass UNM. Before first pitching Saturday, the Lobos will be able to enjoy first place thanks to starting pitcher Carson Schneider's gem on Friday.
New Mexico’s offense plated five runs, but the pitching staff couldn’t hold No. 23 Fresno State in an 11-5 loss in the series opener on Saturday night. The Bulldogs sent out its star pitcher Jill Compton (14-4, 2.66 ERA), but the Lobos found success early on at the plate against her. However, poor pitching of their own, as well as some defensive miscues, would lead to the loss for UNM.
New Mexico returns home, but will be challenged with a nationally ranked opponent as Fresno State comes into town. After losing a series on the road to the Nevada last weekend, the Lobos will play host to No. 23 Fresno State (24-9-, 6-0 MW) on Friday for the start of a three game home stand.
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.”
The New Mexico men’s and women’s tennis team hit the road this week, with one squad looking to extend a two-match winning streak and the other to dust themselves off after suffering a two-match losing streak. The men’s team put itself in position to win each of its home matches last weekend, but failed to close things out when given the opportunity.
This weekend may feature something new for New Mexico’s beach volleyball squad – rain. Head coach Jeff Nelson said he is not thrilled with the idea of playing mud volleyball, in Sacramento, California this weekend because it’s something the Lobos can’t prepare for.
It wasn’t the high scoring affair UNM has gotten accustomed to, but the Lobos still walked out of Roswell, New Mexico with a 3-2 win over NMSU at the neutral site. Junior catcher Chris DeVito played hero for New Mexico with a two-out RBI base hit to even the series up at 1-1 against the in-state-rival Aggies (17-12).
New Mexico women’s tennis continued to roll at home, winning a pair of matches over the weekend including a 5-2 triumph on Sunday over Wyoming at the McKinnon Family Tennis Center. The Lobos defeated Colorado State Friday 7-0, and began Sunday by jumping out to another early lead. New Mexico pulled out the first two tightly contested doubles matches, to pick up the doubles point and go up 1-0 over the Cowgirls.
Solutions by The State News
