COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – After a sweep of Fresno State over the weekend, why not one more? Catcher/DH Chris DeVito and left-handed starter Carson Schneider were named the Mountain West’s Player and Pitcher of the Week, giving UNM a sweep of the awards for the first time this season.
It’s the second time DeVito has earned the honor in his career, as he got it back on February 28, and it’s the first honor for Schneider. Both were instrumental in UNM’s 4-0 week and sweep of Fresno State which propelled UNM into the national poll discussion. The Lobos are ranked 28th in the Collegiate Baseball Top 30 Poll, and are receiving votes in two others. It marks the seventh year in Birmingham’s nine-year tenure that the Lobos have been ranked.
“This is a well deserved honor,” said head coach Ray Birmingham, whose team heads on the road for the next five, including tomorrow at Santa Clara. “Both of these players are great examples of the player development at UNM.”
For DeVito, the week encapsulates what he has done on the season to this point as he is ranks among the NCAA top 10 in eight different catagories, and among the NCAA top 20 in nine. DeVito, who is batting .438 with 11 home runs and 48 RBIs is the national leader in total bases with 103. His slugging percentage of .805 is good for fourth in the country. Hit 48 RBIs and his 56 hits are third nationally, and he ranks fifth in RBIs per game.
He also ranks eight in home runs with 11, and 18th in home runs per game, and his .438 average is good for seventh. DeVito, who has bounced between catcher and designated hitter, is currently on an 11-game hitting streak, and he has hit safely in 29 of his last 30. He has reached base via a walk or hit in all 32 games.
For Schneider, who has helped UNM to opening series wins in all five conference series this season, is 6-1 on the year with a 3.05 ERA. His six wins are tied for eighth nationally, and he is tied for 14th in complete games and tied for 23rd in starts. In his last three starts, Schneider has a 3-0 record and a 1.41 ERA, pitching at least into the ninth inning in all three.
The play of DeVito and Schneider speaks to the bigger issue. Mainly, UNM can hit, and they can pitch. Nationally, UNM is in the top 25 in 13 different NCAA catagories, including a top-10 mark in batting average (10th), slugging (10th), and on base percentage (10th). Pitching-wise, UNM is still feeling the overall effects of an serly series against Dallas Baptist, but as far as conference play, it’s been all UNM.
Schneider leads the league in conference wins with four, and UNM as a team has the second-lowest ERA in conference play with a 3.84 mark. UNM also has five saves in conference play to lead the league, and UNM’s 93 strikeouts are second. UNM is the only team in Mountain West play to have all three weekend starters among the top 10 in ERA. Even fielding-wise, UNM is at the top, tied with Nevada with a .977 fielding percentage, and a conference leading 16 double plays.
BASEBALL PLAYER OF THE WEEK
CHRIS DEVITO, NEW MEXICO
Junior, Catcher/Designated Hitter, Northridge, California / Chatsworth HS
· Led New Mexico to a 4-0 record with a single-game victory against New Mexico State and a 3-0 Conference series win versus Fresno State to take over first place in the MW standings.
· Posted a batting average of .579 (11-for-19) with six runs scored, eight runs batted in and three home runs. Had at least one hit in all four games with a .579 on-base percentage and a 1.053 slugging percentage.
· Five of his RBIs tied or gave UNM the lead in the seventh inning or later in the four games.
· In Tuesday’s 3-2 neutral-site victory against New Mexico State, was 2-for-4 with one RBI. Singled to center in the seventh inning to drive in the winning run against the Aggies.
· Had three hits in Friday’s 2-1 win of the Fresno State series opener. Also scored a run.
· On Saturday, was 5-for-7, including three home runs. Scored four runs, including the game winner, and drove in six in the 14-13, 12-inning victory against the Bulldogs.
· Each home run scored two runs. The two-RBI shot in the seventh tied the game at seven, while the two-out home run in the 10th inning tied the game at 13. His first home run of the game gave UNM a 4-0 lead.
· Was 1-for-4 in Sunday’s 7-4 win, while scoring once and driving in one run.
· Singled in the sixth to drive in a run and give UNM a 3-2 lead.
· Defensively, recorded 20 putouts and two assists, including a runner caught stealing in the ninth inning of Saturday’s 14-13 win.
BASEBALL PITCHER OF THE WEEK
CARSON SCHNEIDER, NEW MEXICO
Junior, Left-Handed Pitcher, Albuquerque, New Mexico / Sandia HS
· Pitched eight and one-third innings of New Mexico’s 2-1 win over Fresno State on April 8.
· Gave up five hits, four singles and one double, and three walks, while allowing one run to score.
· Struck out six batters.
· Carried a three-hit game into the ninth inning.
2016 Mountain West Baseball Players of the Week
Feb. 22 – Adam Groesbeck, Jr., OF, Air Force
Feb. 29 – Chris DeVito, Jr., C/DH, New Mexico
March 8 – Brody Russell, Sr., OF, Fresno State
March 14 – Alan Trejo, So., SS, San Diego State
March 21 – Carl Stajduhar, So., 3B/DH, New Mexico
March 28 – Jake Stone, Jr., OF, Fresno State
April 4 – Brody Russell, Sr., OF, Fresno State
April 11 – Chris DeVito, Jr., C/DH, New Mexico
2016 Mountain West Baseball Pitchers of the Week
Feb. 22 – Anthony Arias, So., LHP, Fresno State
Feb. 29 – Jimmy Lambert, Jr., RHP, Fresno State
March 8 – Jimmy Lambert, Jr., RHP, Fresno State
March 14 – Griffin Jax, Jr., RHP, Air Force
March 21 – Christian Stolo, Sr., LHP, Nevada
March 28 – Griffin Jax, Jr., RHP, Air Force
April 4 – Ricky Tyler Thomas, So., LHP, Fresno State
April 11 – Carson Schneider, Jr., LHP, New Mexico
Lobos Sweep MW Player of the Week Honors
