Sports

Sports

Softball: Lobos add transfer pitcher

Cameron Goeldner | July 9

Paula Congleton and the University of New Mexico softball team have added another pitcher to the 2019 roster, this time the team inked transfer Bailey Klitzke from Wichita State. Klitzke will have two years of eligibility remaining beginning next season. Last year, she recorded a 7-2 record highlighted by wins over Oklahoma State and Texas and a 3.10 ERA in 26 appearances, primarily in relief. She also recorded 40 strikeouts in 49.2 innings pitched.

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Sports

Men's Soccer: Fishbein adamant that cutting sports not the way to go

Robert Maler | July 8

The University of New Mexico Board of Regents announced it will hold a session in the next couple of weeks, which could yield a decision on certain UNM sports and whether some might be eliminated. Several sports have been rumored to be potential casualties in an effort to reduce spending and gain control of an athletic budget that has operated in a deficit for most of the past decade. Men's soccer is one of the programs that has been mentioned frequently as one that could get the axe, but Lobo men's soccer head coach Jeremy Fishbein has been actively campaigning to give his program — and all UNM sports — a chance to continue. Fishbein said he is a supporter of all UNM sports and was adamant that all programs should be maintained and supported moving forward. He said eliminating a sport — especially one with the scope and impact of something like soccer — would be devastating and something that should even be an option.

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Sports

Track and Field: UNM notches four All-American performances, Kerr turns pro

Robert Maler | June 19

The University of New Mexico track and field team made the trip to Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon to compete in the 2018 NCAA Outdoor Championships earlier this month. UNM track and field has made it a habit to send competitors to the championships and have solid showings — and that trend continued as four student-athletes ran their way to All-American performances. Junior runner Josh Kerr was already familiar with competing on the national stage. He won an individual national championship in the men's 1500-meter run last year and was probably viewed as the favorite to defend his crown this time around.

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Sports

UNM sports: UNM Athletics see high GPA marks despite big drop-off for one sport

Robert Maler | June 17

The University of New Mexico saw members of its sports programs put the "student" in student-athlete, as they posted another high grade point average following the recent spring semester. And with the university mulling over the possibility of eliminating some sports to address financial and Title IX compliance issues, there has likely been a higher premium placed on performing well in the classroom — as it will be one of several criteria considered as part of the evaluation process. Several of the sports programs were likely thrilled to see the marks set by its students as the collection of teams earned a 3.19 cumulative GPA — denoting the 20th straight semester with at least a 3.0, a release said.

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Sports

LGBT Moments in Sports

Robert Maler | June 14

Although people seem to be more tolerant and accepting of others' differences, members of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender community probably still find themselves receiving unfair treatment and criticism. The world of sports isn't immune to passing judgement on members of the LGBT community either. Many athletes have spoken out about how difficult it was to "come out" and some experienced hate and vitriol from people who do not agree with or understand their lifestyle. With June commemorating Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Pride Month, it seemed like a good idea to look part at some of the biggest LGBT figures and moments in sports.

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Sports

Softball: Lobos add another player to 2019 class

Cameron Goeldner | May 17

The University of New Mexico softball program added a sixth player to its 2019 class on Tuesday with the signing of infielder Maggie Buckholz out of Salem, Oregon. Buckholz is a four-time All-American and was twice named softball athlete of the year. "I am really excited about Maggie joining this recruiting class," Coach Paula Congleton said in a release. "She brings power, speed and athleticism to our program. She has played in excellent travel ball programs with great coaches. Maggie is not only an outstanding athlete, she is an outstanding student. We are looking forward to seeing her take a leadership role and contributing to our team in the coming years.”

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Sports

Softball: Lobos swept by Boise State in final season series

Cameron Goeldner | May 15

The University of New Mexico softball team was swept in its final series of the season by the Boise State Broncos, who secured the Mountain West title and a place in the NCAA regionals with the win in the first half of Saturday’s doubleheader. Game One The Broncos wasted no time jumping on the Lobos in the first game of the series on Thursday, racking up eight runs in the first inning.

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Sports

Softball: Skylar Jenkins commits to UNM

Cameron Goeldner | May 14

The University of New Mexico softball program added its fifth recruit of the 2019 class last week with the commitment of Skylar Jenkins, an outfielder from Buford High School in Lawrenceville, Georgia. Jenkins hit .415 during her senior season en route to helping her team win its 10th consecutive state championship.

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Sports

Softball: Lobos win home finale

Cameron Goeldner | May 7

The New Mexico softball team sent its seniors out the way that anyone would want to end their final home game; with a win. Krissy Fortner and Chelsea Johnson led the charge and finished off San Diego State 4-1 for the Lobos first Mountain West series victory of the season. Johnson went 3-for-3 with three runs batted in, including a two-run insurance home run in the bottom of the sixth inning. “It was a really important weekend coming into this, I knew that, but I just wanted to go out with a bang and help my team in anyway possible,” Johnson said. “I didn’t care how I got a hit, I didn’t care what it looked like as long as I got on base and moved runners and did my job, I was going to help my team out.”

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Sports

Graduation Issue: Antino Jackson turns doubt into success

Robert Maler | May 7

As many people may know, student-athletes often get the benefit of receiving a scholarship to help offset the cost of attending college. They are also asked to perform well in their sport and in the classroom to earn it. Going to school isn’t always easy, and most students will be faced with a myriad of challenges along the way to earning a degree. But Antino Jackson, point guard for the UNM Lobo basketball team this past season, was faced with arguably more than his fair share of adversity on his way to a diploma.

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Sports

Softball: Lobos fall 7-3 to dampen senior day

Cameron Goeldner | May 5

The University of New Mexico softball team struggled to put the bat on the ball, managing only six hits compared to San Diego State’s 15 as the Lobos fell 7-3 on senior day. “From our perspective we struggled all day long, head coach Paula Congleton said. “We weren’t really mentally prepared which is kind of a shame when we’re trying to honor our seniors.” Krissy Fortner got the start, and was able to work out of early trouble after allowing the Aztecs to load the bases with two outs in the first inning, but a fly out ended the threat.

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Sports

Isotopes set attendance record in debut as Mariachis de Nuevo Mexico

Cameron Goeldner | May 5

The Mariachis de Nuevo Mexico made their debut on Saturday night to much fanfare in front of a record crowd of 16,975 at Isotopes Park, with a 4-1 win over Los Chihuahuas de El Paso. The crowd broke both attendance records that the club keeps, the previous high for a non Fourth of July weekend game was 15,321, which was set on June 23, 2009 when Manny Ramirez made a rehab appearance with the Isotopes. The previous all-time record was set on July 4, 2014 with a crowd of 16,348. “I was blown away by the crowd today, we didn’t expect to break the all-time record,” Isotopes General Manager John Traub said. Traub said that he hadn’t even considered the possibility of breaking the record until a few days ago when he saw the number of advanced ticket sales.

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Sports

Softball: Lobos use the long ball to take down Aztecs, give coach win No. 400

Cameron Goeldner | May 5

University of New Mexico head softball coach Paula Congleton recorded the 400th win of her coaching career in a 5-2 win over the San Diego State Aztecs on Friday night. “I’m really excited, I’m really proud of that,” Congleton said. “I’m really glad that it’s here at UNM. As an alumni, just bringing this program back it’s exciting.” The Aztecs opened the scoring in the top of the first inning off of Lobos starter Jensen Main, as a Shelby Thompson one out single was followed by a single from Katie Byrd that advanced Thompson to third. She came around to score on a Kelsey Munoz single to open up an early 1-0 lead. Main was able to strand the remaining runners, two of 11 runners on the night that the Aztecs left on base.

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Sports

Women’s Basketball: Lobos sign UTEP transfer Najala Howell

Matthew Narvaiz | May 2

The University of New Mexico women’s basketball team signed yet another player to its program this offseason. Najala Howell, who played the last three years at UTEP, made the decision to become a Lobo, UNM head coach Mike Bradbury announced on Wednesday. Howell will have to sit out the 2018-19 season due to NCAA transfer rules. “I chose New Mexico because this program is the perfect fit for me,” Howell said, according to a press release. “I'm excited because it's been a long time coming, and I know for a fact that nothing but blessings are coming this way for me and for the Lobos.” Howell, a 5-10 guard/forward, played and started in all 31 of UTEP’s games last season. She averaged 11.9 points per game, which was the second most of any player on her team last season. She also averaged 6.3 rebounds and shot 82.4 percent from the free throw line last season.

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Sports

Baseball: Lobos start nine freshmen at NMSU, fall 13-2

Matthew Narvaiz | May 2

Playing on the road at New Mexico State, and starting nine freshmen in the process, didn’t work out in the University of New Mexico baseball team’s favor. Instead, the veteran-laced Aggies trampled the Lobos 13-2 on Tuesday evening in Las Cruces. This was the second matchup between the two teams, with NMSU winning both contests. With the loss, UNM dropped its record to 15-28-1 overall, while the Aggies are now 29-16 overall.

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Sports

Softball: San Jose St completes sweep of Lobos

Cameron Goeldner | April 30

The University of New Mexico Softball team dropped the final two games to San Jose State as the Spartans completed the sweep to open their new softball field. Game One The New Mexico softball team blew a late 1-0 on Saturday against San Jose State in the second game of the series, the Spartans won 2-1 on a walk off in the bottom of the seventh. Krissy Fortner got the start for the Lobos and pitched a complete game, six and a third innings, allowing three hits, two runs, one earned, with one strikeout. It was Fortner’s first complete game of the season.

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Sports

Baseball: Lobos drop first two in road test against SJSU

Matthew Narvaiz | April 29

The University of New Mexico baseball team, coming off of a split against Grand Canyon during the week, had no such luck against San Jose State — dropping the first two games of a weekend series on the road agains the Spartans. The Lobos haven't fared well at all on the road this season, winning just four games all year for an anemic 4-13 record in true road games. Though the team is 3-3 in neutral site matchups, UNM simply hasn't had positive results when playing outside the friendly confines of Santa Ana Star Field.

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Sports

Softball: Lobos drop game one to Spartans on the road

Cameron Goeldner | April 28

The New Mexico softball team (12-33, 5-11 MW) was unable to spoil the christening of San Jose State's (28-15, 12-6 MW) new field on Friday night, as the Spartans won 3-1. The Spartans opened the scoring right away, putting a run on the scoreboard in the bottom of the first. Senior Emma Entzminger recorded the first hit of the game with an infield single, and then stole second to move into scoring position.

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Sports

Softball: Offensive woes continue for Lobos

Cameron Goeldner | April 26

Defensive struggles for the University of New Mexico softball team once again reared their head on Wednesday night in a 3-1 loss to the No. 10 Arizona Wildcats in Tucson. Jensen Main had put in one of her best performances of the season for the Lobos, holding the Wildcats to just four hits on the night. The Wildcats opened the scoring in the second with two unearned runs after an error by Kristyn Whitley at third on what would have been the third out allowed a runner to reach. The next batter, Ivy Davis hit a two run home run to give Arizona an early 2-0 lead.

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Sports

Softball: Lobos travel to take on San Jose State

Cameron Goeldner | April 26

The Lobos are coming off a series loss to Utah State at home last weekend, as well as a midweek loss on Wednesday night to No. 10 Arizona, 3-1. The Spartans come into the weekend with a 27-15 (11-6 MW) record and are coming off a series victory on the road at Colorado State last weekend. SJSU is currently sitting third in the conference.