Feb. 10, 2005
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New Mexico State (1-4) at New Mexico (0-4)
FRIDAY-SUNDAY, FEB. 11-13 — ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — ISOTOPES PARK (11,124)
SCHEDULE:
Friday, Feb. 11 - 4 p.m.Saturday, Feb. 12 - 2 p.m.Sunday, Feb. 6 - 1 p.m.
MEDIA COVERAGE:
RADIO: All games will be broadcast on KDEF 1150 AM and GoLobos.com with Henry Tafoya, Dan Rivera and Mike Foote calling the action.There will be a pregame show 15 minutes prior to each game.
Click here for radio broadcasts.
LIVE STATS: Live stats of all three games will be available at GoLobos.com.
TICKET INFORMATION: Single-game tickets are $6 for adults, $4 for seniors and $3 for youth. Tickets are available at the Isotopes Park ticket office on game day or at GoLobos.com.
SERIES INFORMATION: New Mexico leads, 136-68. The two rivals split the season series last year, with each team winning at home. The series is tied 5-5 in the last 10 meetings.
PROJECTED PITCHING ROTATION:
Friday:NMSU: #29 RH Sr. Dustin Cameron (0-1, 30.86 ERA, 2.1 IP, 0 K)vs.UNM: #28 RH Sr. Jason Fernandez (0-1, 9.00 ERA, 5.0 IP, 2 K)
Saturday:NMSU: #41 RH So. Jason Conner (0-1, 8.31 ERA, 4.1 IP, 3 K)vs.UNM: #11 RH Sr. Karsten Gaarder (0-1, 9.53 ERA, 5.2 IP, 3 K)
Sunday:NMSU: #44 RH Fr. Brian Sizemore (1-0, 1.29 ERA, 7.0 IP, 5 K)vs.UNM: #21 RH Jr. Darren Coltrinari (0-1, 20.25 ERA, 2.2 IP, 0 K)
WELCOME HOME: After playing its first four games on the road, the New Mexico baseball team plays its home-opening series this weekend (Feb. 11-13) against intrastate rival New Mexico State at Isotopes Park. Opening Day is set for Friday at 4 p.m., while Saturday’s game is at 2 p.m. and Sunday’s game is at 1 p.m. All games will be broadcast on KDEF 1150 AM and GoLobos.com, and live stats will also be available at GoLobos.com.
New Mexico (0-4) is still looking for its first win of the young season after falling to Texas Tech on Tuesday, 18-6. The Lobos were swept last weekend at then-No. 12 Arizona. The Aggies (1-4) lost four of five games last weekend at the Arizona State Tournament in Tempe.
The Lobos will look to get back on track as they play 16 of their next 19 games in the friendly confines of Isotopes Park. UNM hosts Texas State for a three-game series next weekend (Feb. 18-20) before traveling to Houston, Texas, for the Rice Tournament Feb. 25-27. After Rice, the Lobos will welcome Northern Colorado, Savannah State and BYU for weekend series at The Lab.
HISTORY LESSON – LOBOS-AGGIES 101: New Mexico State is UNM’s longest standing rivalry in program history. The Lobos have the edge in the all-time series that dates back to 1948, 136-68. The two teams split the season series in 2004, with the Aggies topping the Lobos in Las Cruces, 16-9, and the Lobos returning the favor in Albuquerque, 17-13. The series has been very competitive of late, as the series is tied 5-5 in the last 10 meetings.
Coach Alday is 31-33 in his career vs. the Aggies, including an 18-11 mark in Albuquerque. The Lobos have a 6-4 advantage in the last 10 meetings in the Duke City.
After this three-game series, the teams will meet for three single-game contests (March 22, March 29, April 12) in Las Cruces.
NOTES FROM THE TEXAS TECH GAME
Texas Tech defeated the Lobos, 18-6, Tuesday, Feb. 8 before 1,941 at Dan Law Field
The Lobos scored five runs in the top of the third to go up 5-1, but the Red Raiders scored at least one run in every inning after that point in the victory
Freshman Jordan Pacheco went 3-for-4 with two runs scored in his fourth career game
Junior shortstop Ryan Barba |
Freshman Ian Hollick hit a pinch-hit RBI single in the ninth…he is now 3-for-6 on the season with three RBI
The Lobos rattled off six consecutive hits in the third inning while scoring five runs
Sophomore Chris Carlson collected his first hits as a Lobo, going 2-for-5 with a two-run double
In his first career start, freshman Bobby Moore threw three innings, allowing two runs, one earned, on two hits and two strikeouts
The Lobos used seven pitchers in the contest…Jesse Garcia-Perez took the loss after giving up four runs and five hits in the decisive third inning
New Mexico gave up 16 hits in the game…the Lobos have allowed no fewer than 13 hits in its first four games…opponents are hitting .417 against UNM.
The two teams meet again in single games (April 26, May 3) in Lubbock later in the season
GET OUT THOSE BINOCULARS – LOBOS TO WATCH:
Senior Jason Fernandez is UNM’s top returning starting pitcher after leading the team in wins (seven) and innings pitched (94.0) last season. While not an overpowering pitcher, Fernandez throws strikes (only 16 walks in 2004) and is a fierce competitor on the mound. He got the ball on Opening Day for UNM and will start in the Lobos’ home opener Friday night.
Sophomore first baseman Daniel Stovall is looking to top his sensational freshman campaign that landed him spots on the Collegiate Baseball Freshman All-America and All-Mountain West teams. Prior to this season, he was one of 58 players named to the Wallace Watch Award list, which is given out to college baseball’s top player. He was also named Baseball America’s preseason Mountain West Player of the Year. Stovall hit .347 with 12 homers, 14 doubles and 34 RBI last year. This season, he is batting .286 with three RBI.
Freshman Jordan Pacheco, who led Albuquerque’s La Cueva High School to back-to-back state championships, is making a nice transition to Division I collegiate baseball. The second baseman is second on the team with a .400 batting average after going 3-for-4 at Texas Tech on Tuesday.
DON’T LEAVE FOR THE BALLPARK WITHOUT THEM – CAN’T MISS NOTES:
Coach Alday is 9-6 at New Mexico in home openers.
In the last meeting against New Mexico State, the Lobos trailed the Aggies 9-3 after five and a half innings. The Lobos then exploded for 10 runs in the bottom of the sixth – keyed by a Joe Salas grand slam – to take over the game. The offensive fireworks continued for both teams, but the Lobos held on for the 17-13 victory, marking their biggest comeback win of 2004.
New Mexico will play teams that posted a winning record in 2004 in 19 of their first 20 games of the 2005 season. Arizona reached the College World Series last season and Texas Tech advanced to the NCAA Regionals. UNM then hosts New Mexico State (33-25-1) and Texas State (32-26) before playing in the Rice Tournament (Nebraska – 36-23; Western Carolina – 28-31; Rice – 46-14). The Lobos host Northern Colorado (29-23) and New Mexico Highlands (30-26) before starting the conference season.
SCOUTING THE OPPONENT
NEW MEXICO STATE AGGIES (1-4)
New Mexico State returns nine letterwinners from last season’s team that went 33-25-1 and finished fifth in the Sun Belt with a 12-12 conference mark.
The Aggies are 1-4 heading into Albuquerque after playing in last weekend’s Arizona State Tournament. NMSU defeated Gonzaga, 5-1, but fell twice to Oregon State (19-0; 11-2) and then-No. 9 Arizona State (12-0; 11-10). The Aggies were leading ASU 10-8 in the ninth inning before the Sun Devils rallied for three runs in the bottom of the ninth to win the second meeting.
Adam Harvey leads the Aggie offense after batting .455 with three homers and seven RBI in the first weekend.
In its college preview issue, Baseball America picked the Aggies to finish sixth in the Sun Belt Conference.
The Lobos and Aggies will meet three more times this season in Las Cruces (March 22, March 29, April 12).
HEAD COACH: Rocky Ward. Overall record: 157-179 (Fifth year). Record at New Mexico State: 157-179 (Fifth year).
SERIES NOTES:
New Mexico leads, 136-68.Streak: New Mexico - 1 gameCoach Alday vs. New Mexico State: 31-33; in Albuquerque: 18-11Last UNM win: New Mexico 17, New Mexico St. 13 (March 30, 2004 @ Isotopes Park)Last NMSU win: New Mexico St. 16, New Mexico 9 (March 23, 2004 @ Las Cruces)Last UNM series win: 2000 in Las Cruces (Two out of three)Last UNM season-series win: 1999 (Four out of four)Last UNM sweep (three-game series): 1987 in AlbuquerqueLast NMSU series win: 2002 in Las Cruces (Two out of three)Last NMSU season-series win: 2003 (Three out of five)Last NMSU sweep (three-game series): 2001 in Las Cruces
LOBOS VS. NEW MEXICO STATE: Junior Ryan Barba leads all Lobos with a .571 batting average vs. the Aggies, including four doubles and six RBI.
NOTES FROM THE ARIZONA SERIES
No. 12 Arizona took care of business last weekend, sweeping New Mexico, 9-0, 14-5, and 15-6
Senior catcher Jeff Grady |
Wildcat junior John Meloan allowed just one hit in 7.2 innings of action in the opener, striking out a career-high 12 batters…he didn’t allow a hit until Ryan Barba lashed a single with two outs in the top of the eighth inning…for his efforts, he was named the National Collegiate Pitcher of the Week
Arizona was equally as dominant on Saturday, as the staff fanned 18 Lobos…for the series, UNM struck out 42 times.
The Wildcats scored 38 hits and collected 49 hits in the series as they extended their winning streak to 22 games over the Lobos.
Garrick Haymore led the Lobos at the plate, going 3-for-7 with two doubles and two runs.
In his first career start, freshman Ian Hollick went 2-for-4 with two RBI in Sunday’s finale.
The Lobos only hit .173 in the series with 11 runs and 17 hits…the defense committed five errors and allowed eight unearned runs.
The two teams meet again for a single game April 19 at Isotopes Park in Albuquerque.
PLAYER NOTES –
A GLANCE AT THE LOBO STARTING PITCHERS: The Lobos will send senior right-hander Jason Fernandez, senior right-hander Karsten Gaarder, and junior right-hander Darren Coltrinari to the mound this weekend.
GM. 1 – Friday – 6 p.m. – #28 RH Sr. Jason Fernandez (0-1, 9.00 ERA)
— Led Lobos last season in wins (seven) and innings pitched (94.0)
— Led the Mountain West with 69.2 innings pitched in conference play
— No. 1 conference starter last season, going 6-3 in league play
— Opening Day starter for UNM at Arizona, taking the loss after allowing five runs in five innings
GM. 2 – Saturday – 2 p.m. – #11 RH Sr. Karsten Gaarder (0-1, 9.53 ERA)
— Gaarder appeared in 19 games in 2004, starting in four
— Went 3-1 with a 2.23 ERA and 48 strikeouts in 36.1 innings of work for the McKinney Marshals of the Texas Collegiate League in summer of 2004
— Solid outing in loss at Arizona Feb. 5, surrendering seven runs, six earned, in 5.2 innings
GM. 3 – Sunday – 1 p.m. – #21 RH Jr. Darren Coltrinari (0-1, 20.25 ERA)
— Looks to return to the conference rotation after making only five starts last year
— Regained his old form with a strong summer season for the Alexandria Beetles in the Northwoods League in 2004
— Started last Sunday against Arizona, suffering the loss…gave up six runs on six hits in 2.1 innings of work
— Short appearance at Texas Tech on Tuesday, facing only batter
Daniel Stovall PLACED ON WALLACE WATCH AWARD LIST, NAMED BASEBALL AMERICA’s PRESEASON MOUNTAIN WEST PLAYER OF THE YEAR: New Mexico sophomore first baseman Daniel Stovall was one of 58 players named to the Wallace Watch List for the 2005 season by the College Baseball Foundation. The Brooks Wallace Award is presented annually to the national college baseball player of the year. Kurt Suzuki of Cal State Fullerton was the winner of the 2004 Brooks Wallace Award. Stovall batted .347 with 12 homers, 14 doubles and 34 RBI in his freshman season and was named a Collegiate Baseball Freshman All-American.
The Wallace Watch will be trimmed to 12 semi-finalists by Tuesday, May 24, 2005.Then the selection committee will narrow the list to three finalists following the NCAA Super Regionals at a press conference in Omaha on Thursday, June 16, 2005.The finalists, their head coaches, and their parents will be invited to Lubbock, Texas, for a golf tournament, a welcome dinner and the award banquet.
Stovall was also showered with accolades by Baseball America. In its college preview, Baseball America named Stovall as its preseason choice for Mountain West Player of the Year. Stovall, who was also listed as the No. 3 prospect in the league, was named the best raw power of any hitter in the MWC along with top defensive first baseman honors.
LOBOS TO PLAY ISOTOPES: The Albuquerque Isotopes, Triple-A affiliate of the Florida Marlins, and University of New Mexico Lobos will meet for the first time in an exhibition game on Tuesday, April 5 at Isotopes Park, with first pitch at 6:05 PM. All tickets for the event are $5 general admission seats, with all net proceeds benefiting UNM athletics scholarships.
The Isotopes also announced a plan to support the Tsunami disaster relief efforts in Asia. The club will donate an amount equal to 10% of the ticket revenue from the exhibition game to the Red Cross.
“This is an exciting opportunity for the community to see the coming together of two Albuquerque institutions on the baseball field and to help support the disaster victims in Southeast Asia,” said Isotopes General Manager John Traub. “We look forward to launching our season against the Lobos and getting prepared for the Pacific Coast League.”
The Isotopes and Lobos will play a nine-inning game with wooden bats. If the game is deadlocked after nine innings, it will be declared a tie. Tickets will go on sale in mid-March and be sold at the Isotopes Park Box Office.
“This is an excellent opportunity for our team to be able to compete against a high-caliber professional ballclub,” New Mexico head baseball coach Rich Alday said. “Our players are real excited about playing against the Isotopes in front of a big crowd. More importantly, it’s great exposure for our program and a great way to benefit the University of New Mexico Athletic Department. We’re looking forward to the game, and it should be a fun event.”
While this is the first meeting between the Lobos and Isotopes, the Lobos squared off against the Albuquerque Dukes 22 times, dating back to 1942. The Dukes owned a 19-3 advantage in the all-time series, including a 3-2 victory in the last meeting on April 8, 1986. The Lobos won 8-5 on April 11, 1978 and twice in 1942.
MARK McGWIRE USELESS STAT OF THE WEEK
“When I broke in, they didn’t keep track of things the way they do now. These days they have a stat for how many times a guy goes for a cup of coffee.” – Mark McGwire
The Lobos are playing New Mexico State this weekend – and in their history, they’re very successful against teams that begin with the letter N. In fact, the Lobos are 237-118-1 (.667) all-time when playing schools that begin with the letter N, which is the most wins for UNM against any letter.