ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – For the second week in a row and third time this season, third baseman Carl Stajduhar has been named Mountain West Player of the Week, as announced by the conference office. He led the Lobos to a split against No. 7 Texas Tech and a series win over San Diego State. His team will look to take that momentum into Tuesday’s Rio Grande Rivalry game against New Mexico State at home at 6 p.m.
For the second week in a row, Stajduhar was a no doubt selection, increasing his averages from the previous award-winning week. He batted .500 over five games had multiple hits in four of five contests. During that span, he slugged .950 and reached base at a .600 clip, good for an OPS of 1.550.
Overall, he had two home runs and four extra base hits, going for the cycle over five games. He drove in a team-best 10 runs. He scored in four out of five games, good for five runs scored.
On Tuesday against No. 7 Texas Tech, he hit a game-tying home run in the fourth inning. His best stretch came from Friday to Saturday, where he went 6-for-9 with a whopping eight RBI.
Overall, UNM has picked up Mountain West Player or Pitcher of the Week six times this season, with Stajduhar three times, Chris DeVito twice, and then Carson Schneider two weeks ago as Pitcher of the Week.
The Lobos enter the game with a record of 16-5, good for first place in the MW by two games over Fresno State. The Lobos hold a RPI of 60 and have received votes in the USA Today Coach’s Poll.
The Lobos and Aggies do know a little something about each other. The meeting Tuesday will be the 240th meeting between the two programs, and the Lobos lead the all-time series 156-83, although it was New Mexico State who took the opening game of the four being played this season, losing 9-6 in a neutral site game in El Paso. The last meeting took place in Roswell, where the Lobos took care of business, 3-2. In Albuquerque, the Lobos have been dominant. New Mexico holds a record of 75-29 over the Aggies, good for a winning percentage of .721.
Robert Portnoy will have the call for Tuesday on ESPN Radio 101.7 The TEAM, and the audio will also be streamed at www.1017theteam.com.
Tuesday’s game will be $2 Tuesday, with all tickets for the game just $2. Fans will enter through the South Entrance due to set-up for the Gathering of Nations.