Sports - The Daily Lobo

Junior Devanne Sours jumps to the net to block an off speed shot by a New Mexico State player on Saturday, March 19, 2016 at Luck 66 Bowl’s sand volleyball courts. The Lobos will compete in the Wildcat Spring Challenge in Tucson, Arizona this weekend.

Sports

Beach Volleyball: Lobos look to build on recent tear

Liam Cary-Eaves | March 25

Riding a seven game winning-streak, the Lobos will take to the road in Arizona in hopes to continue their triumphant push in just the second season the program has been in place. After playing two matches in Tempe, and Phoenix Arizona, UNM will play three more games in the Grand Canyon State, this time in Tucson, Arizona. The squad is going to play against three opponents – CSUN and No. 7 Arizona on Friday followed by a Saturday matchup against California State University, Bakersfield.

Defensive Line Coach Barry Sacks helps sophomore defensive lineman Kene Okonkwo on Wednesday morning’s drill practice. This was the second practice held in preparation for the 2016 football season.

Sports

Football: Focus is on consistency during Spring

Robert Maler | March 24

The New Mexico football team may have some new faces and experience some change and adversity, but as the team gets ready for spring practice, the head coach said there will be one clear focus — consistency. In Monday’s press conference, head coach Bob Davie discussed the state of the football program. He said the team continued to show growth and improvement last season and is moving in a positive direction, but one of the biggest obstacles it faced was inconsistency.

Redshirt senior pitcher Colton Thomson pitches against San Jose State on Sunday, March 20, 2016 at Santa Ana Star Field. The Lobos will have their first of three games against San Diego State this Thursday in San Diego, California.

Sports

Lobos fall to Texas Tech in high-scoring game

Liam Cary-Eaves | March 24

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.

Senior Dalton Bowers bats against the San Jose State Spartans on Sunday afternoon at the Santa Ana field. The Lobos beat the Spartans 11-1.

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Baseball: Lobos sweep Spartans behind Thomson's gem

Liam Cary-Eaves | March 21

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.

Senior Mariah Rimmer rounds second base during a game against Northern Colorado at the Lobo Softball Field. The Lobos lost to Cal State Fullerton 2-0.

Sports

Softball: Lobos go 2-3 at Cal State Fullerton tourney

Staff Report | March 20

Staff Report Despite picking up its biggest wins of the season at the Cal State Fullerton tournament, the New Mexico softball team capped the weekend with only two wins in five games. Opening the tournament on Friday, the Lobos (15-11) lost its first two games in Fullerton, California with a 4-3 10-inning setback to Arkansas then a 6-1 decision to Alabama.

Senior Dalton Bowers makes contact with the ball Saturday afternoon at Santa Ana Star Field. UNM beats San Jose State 3-2.

Sports

Baseball: Stevens hot; bats cool for UNM to take series

Liam Cary-Eaves | March 20

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.

Junior Cassie House looks at her teammate and celebrates after a kill against Colorado Mesa Friday afternoon at Lucky 66 Bowl’s sand volleyball courts. The Lobos swept all four matches over the weekend.

Sports

Beach Volleyball: Lobos don't disappoint home crowd

Liam Cary-Eaves | March 19

New Mexico has its sand legs firmly planted in the program’s second season. Prior to the weekend tournament, head coach Jeff Nelson said that the squad expected to win all of the matches it had scheduled.

Junior Julia Warren sets up for a kill against A New Mexico State player Saturday afternoon Lucky 66 Bowl's sand volleyball courts. The Lobos beat the Aggies 5-0 and swept the weekend.

Sports

Beach Volleyball: Lobos drop ASU, look for weekend sweep against NMSU

Liam Cary-Eaves | March 19

With one game left in UNM’s only home tournament of the season, the Lobos remain a perfect 3-0 in Albuquerque. UNM (9-3) was able to hand ASU a 4-1 loss, the only loss coming on court one, for New Mexico.

Sophomore Luis Gonzalez slides back to first base as a San Jose State pitcher attempts to get him Friday night at Santa Ana Star Field. The Lobos beat the Spartans 9-6.

Sports

Baseball: Eighth inning rally gives Lobos first game of SJSU series

March 19

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.

Junior Devanne Sours attempts to block a Colorado Mesa player Friday afternoon at the Lucky 66 Bowl beach volleyball courts. The Lobos beat the Mavericks 5-0.

Sports

Beach Volleyball: Lobos continue hot streak in home-opener

Liam Cary-Eaves | March 19

Colorado Mesa State has one more shot at getting a point against New Mexico. On the first day of New Mexico’s only home tournament of the season, the Lobos cruised past the Mavericks in a 5-0 sweep on Friday afternoon. It is the second time UNM has swept CMU (0-8).

Head womens basketball coach Yvonne Sanchez celebrates with Lobo players during a game against UNLV. Sanchez was relieved of her duties as head coach after serving five seasons in the position.

Sports

Women's Basketball: UNM fires Yvonne Sanchez

Liam Cary-Eaves | March 18

Women’s basketball in New Mexico will have a different feel in 2016. Less than 48 hours after UNM was bounced out of the first round in a 75-67 loss to Weber State in the Women’s Basketball Invitational, Vice President of Athletics Paul Krebs announced that Yvonne Sanchez has been relieved of her duties as head coach. “I believe that five years is enough time for a head coach to really develop and produce a quality program,” Krebs said in Friday’s press conference. “I think the logical question is why extend coach Sanchez’s last year?”

Sports

Softball: Lobos sweep UTEP in doubleheader

J.R. Oppenheim | March 17

The New Mexico softball team improved to 13-8 on the season with a doubleheader sweep over UTEP Tuesday in El Paso, Texas. The Lobos jumped ahead early in the first game behind a six-run opening inning that included three straight hits.

Senior forward Khadijah Shumpert evades a Weber State player as she drives to the net Wednesday night at the Johnson Center. The Lobos lost to Weber State 75-67 in the first round of the 2016 Womens Basketball Invitational.

Sports

Women's Basketball: Lobos fall in first round of WBI

Liam Cary-Eaves | March 16

Going into the first round of the Women’s Basketball Invitational, New Mexico knew Weber State was fond of shooting the ball from beyond the arc. The Wildcats did not introduce any surprises and solid 3-point shooting bounced UNM out of the tournament with a 75-67 win on Wednesday night.

Sophomore guard Cherise Beynon attempts a lay up during a break away at WisePies Arena. The Lobos will compete against Weber State Wednesday night during the 2016 Womens Basketball Invitational.

Sports

Women's Basketball: Lobos continue season with WBI contest against Weber State

Liam Cary-Eaves | March 16

New Mexico’s women’s basketball season has not come to a close yet as the Lobos have opted to play in the Women’s Basketball Invitational beginning on Wednesday. For the second straight year UNM will be entering postseason play, this year as the No. 2 seed in the tournament.

Junior Hayden Sabatka celebrates after winning a set Saturday afternoon. The Lobos played the University of Northern Arizona Monday afternoon, beating them 7-0.

Sports

Men's Tennis: Lobos continue to play well at home

Robert Maler | March 15

The New Mexico men’s tennis team continues its hot streak, earning another sweep at home Monday against Northern Arizona. Windy conditions forced the event to be held at the Linda Estes Tennis Center in lieu of playing outside underneath the lights at McKinnon Family Tennis Center.

Sophomore Bart Van Leijsen runs up the court to return the ball to during the Mountain Pacific Invitational Saturday, March 12, 2016. The Lobos finished the invitational in first place only letting up one point in during the entire competition.

Sports

Men's Tennis: New Mexico rolls through Mountain-Pacific invite

Robert Maler | March 15

The UNM men’s tennis team, playing perhaps its best tennis of the season, finished Saturday as the last team standing in the Mountain-Pacific Invitational on Saturday. The Lobos knifed through the competition, surrendering just one total point against the competition over the two day event, although many of the matches were tightly contested.

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Beach Volleyball: Lobos pick up three more wins in California and Arizona

Liam Cary-Eaves | March 15

In the second road trip of the season, New Mexico picked up three wins yet again to improve to 6-3 on the year. The weekend provided a change of scenery as UNM took from the Arizona desert sand to play on the Newland Street Courts on Hunnington Beach in California.

Sophomore Luis Gonzalez rounds third base on his way to home plate Sunday, March 6, 2016 at Santa Ana Star Field. The Lobos will play Nevada this upcoming weekend in Reno.

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Baseball: Lobos snap skid, take series at Nevada

Liam Cary-Eaves | March 15

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.

Sports

Women's Tennis: Lobos split weekend in Texas

Robert Maler | March 14

The New Mexico women’s tennis team earned a split again on the road gutting out a victory over North Texas Friday and taking UT Arlington the distance on Saturday. The Lobos traveled to North Texas to start the last leg of its road trip in Denton, Texas. As rain swept through the area, the match was forced to be moved to a different venue.

Redshirt sophomore guard Cullen Neal picks up a out of bounds ball Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2016 at WisePies Arena.

Sports

Men's Basketball: Cullen Neal to transfer from UNM

J.R. Oppenheim | March 14

In a season filled with criticism from one segment of the New Mexico fan base, point guard Cullen Neal will transfer from the University, the Athletic Department announced in a email sent Monday morning. The announcement followed a tumultuous run for Neal in his redshirt sophomore campaign.