Feb. 23, 2005
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NEXT IN LOBO BASEBALL
New Mexico (4-6) at Crowne Plaza/Rice Invitational
FRIDAY-SUNDAY, FEB. 25-27 — HOUSTON, TEXAS — RECKLING PARK (4,500)
TEAMS:
New Mexico (4-6)No. 27 Nebraska (5-0)No. 7 Rice (8-1)Western Carolina (2-1)
TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE (ALL TIMES MOUNTAIN):
Friday, Feb. 25Western Carolina vs. No. 7 Rice, 3:30 p.m.New Mexico vs. No. 27 Nebraska, 30 minutes after game one
Saturday, Feb. 26No. 27 Nebraska vs. No. 7 Rice, 12 p.m.New Mexico vs. Western Carolina, 3:30 p.m.
Sunday, Feb. 27Western Carolina vs. No. 27 Nebraska, 11 a.m.New Mexico vs. No. 7 Rice, 2:30 p.m.
MEDIA COVERAGE:
MULTIMEDIA: Live audio/video of Sunday’s game vs. Rice available for purchase at RiceOwls.com.
Click here for live audio via KTRU
Click here for live audio via Texas Sports Radio Network
LIVE STATS: Live stats of all tournament games will be available at RiceOwls.com.
PROJECTED PITCHING ROTATION:
Friday:NEB: #44 RH So. Joba Chamberlain (0-0, 2.08 ERA, 4.1 IP, 4 K)vs.UNM: #28 RH Sr. Jason Fernandez (2-1, 5.50 ERA, 18.0 IP, 8 K)
Saturday:WCU: TBAvs.UNM: #11 RH Sr. Karsten Gaarder (1-2, 7.88 ERA, 16.0 IP, 14 K)
Sunday:RICE: TBAvs.UNM: #21 RH Jr. Darren Coltrinari (1-2, 11.57 ERA, 14.0 IP, 10 K)
LOBOS FACE DIFFICULT CHALLENGE THIS WEEKEND AT RICE INVITATIONAL: The New Mexico baseball team heads to the Lone Star State this weekend for the Crowne Plaza/Rice Invitational in Houston, Texas. The Lobos (4-6) match up against No. 27 Nebraska Friday, Feb. 25 at approximately 7 p.m. MT, Western Carolina Saturday, Feb. 26 at 3:30 p.m. MT and No. 7 Rice Sunday, Feb. 27 at 2:30 p.m. MT.
Please note: Due to Houston area weather, New Mexico’s game vs. Nebraska on Friday has been moved back to approximately 7 p.m. MT, or 30 minutes after the Rice-Western Carolina game at 3:30 p.m. MT
Live stats of all tournament games will be available at RiceOwls.com, and live audio and video of Sunday’s game will also be available for purchase at RiceOwls.com. To access the live stats, go the baseball page at RiceOwls.com and click on the live stats link on the right-hand side of the page under “Info Center”.
Chris Carlson is tied for the MWC lead with 14 RBI. |
The Lobos lost two of three games last weekend (Feb. 18-20) to Texas State at Isotopes Park. UNM started with an impressive 19-5 thrashing of the Bobcats on Friday night in the series opener, but Texas State bounced back with a 10-6 victory on Saturday and 9-2 win on Sunday.
Nebraska, ranked 27th in this week’s Collegiate Baseball poll, rattled off five straight wins to start its season against Hawai’i-Hilo last weekend. The Huskers beat the Lobos three times last season. NU features preseason All-American Alex Gordon at third base.
Western Carolina began its year by winning two of three last weekend at home vs. Wright State. The Catamounts return 13 letterwinners from last season’s 28-31 squad.
Rice, a perennial power in college baseball that claimed the 2003 national championship, is off to an 8-1 start after topping Southwest Missouri State, No. 15 Mississippi and Lamar at home last weekend. The Owls, ranked seventh in this week’s Collegiate Baseball poll, beat Houston in 10 innings on Tuesday at home.
HISTORY LESSON – LOBOS-HUSKERS 101
Nebraska leads the all-time series vs. New Mexico, 15-7, including three victories in 2004
The Huskers beat UNM in Albuquerque, 12-8, and twice in Lincoln, 7-3 and 14-7, last year UNM has lost six straight to Nebraska, with the last victory coming March 26, 1997 in Honolulu.
The Lobos are 3-4 vs. the Huskers when playing at neutral sites
Coach Alday is 5-8 vs. Nebraska (Home: 2-3; Away: 0-2; Neutral: 3-3)
Nebraska defeated the Lobos in 13 innings three years ago at the Rice Tournament (3-2) on Feb. 15, 2002
HISTORY LESSON – LOBOS-CATAMOUNTS 101
This is the first meeting between New Mexico and Western Carolina.
HISTORY LESSON – LOBOS-OWLS 101
Rice leads the all-time series over UNM, 17-2, including seven straight wins
UNM’s last win over Rice came on April 12, 1998, with a 27-26 triumph in Albuquerque
UNM won the first-ever meeting between the two schools, an 11-8 decision in Albuquerque on March 21, 1997
UNM is 0-11 at Rice
Coach Alday is 2-17 vs. Rice (Home: 2-4; Away: 0-11; Neutral: 0-2)
The Owls won the last meeting, a 9-5 victory Feb. 17, 2002 in Houston
GET OUT THOSE BINOCULARS – LOBOS TO WATCH
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. He is currently one of 55 players on 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.
Thus far, he’s living up to his preseason billing – he’s tied for the Mountain West lead with 14 RBI and is batting .350 with four doubles. He was named the MWC Player of the Week Feb. 14 after batting .538 (7-for-13) in the New Mexico State series.
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 seventh in the Mountain West with a .417 batting average to go along with seven RBI and seven runs. Pacheco was 6-for-14 (.429) with three runs against Texas State.
Sophomore Chris Carlson is tied for the MWC lead with 14 RBI after knocking in six runs in New Mexico’s 19-5 win over Texas State last Friday. Carlson went 3-for-5 in that game with a three-run homer. Overall against Texas State, he hit .455 (5-for-11) with seven RBI. Carlson heads into the Rice Invitational with a .314 batting average and a team-best 12 runs scored.
DON’T LEAVE FOR THE BALLPARK WITHOUT THEM – CAN’T MISS NOTES
The Lobos are one win shy of claiming the program’s 1400th win. UNM is 1399-1282-14 (.522) all-time in its history.
While UNM’s former home, Lobo Field, was known as a “home run park”, Isotopes Park is looking like a “triples park” for hitters. New Mexico was ninth in the nation last season with 26 triples, and former leadoff hitter Matt Young led the country with 12 three-baggers. This season, the Lobos lead the Mountain West with seven triples – all of them coming in the Lobos’ six home games at The Lab.
Shortstop Ryan Barba |
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. After hosting New Mexico State (33-25-1) and Texas State (32-26), UNM plays in the top-notch 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.
MARCH 5 GAME VS. NORTHERN COLORADO MOVED TO 2 P.M.
New Mexico’s game against Northern Colorado Saturday, March 5 has been moved to a 2 p.m. start due to a scheduling conflict with men’s basketball. The Lobos host Colorado State at 7 p.m. in The Pit, forcing the first pitch to be moved from 6 p.m. to 2 p.m.
SCOUTING REPORT
No. 27 NEBRASKA CORNHUSKERS (5-0)
Nebraska returns 16 letterwinners from last season’s team that went 36-23 and finished eighth in the Big 12 with an 11-16 league mark. The Huskers, ranked No. 27 in the Collegiate Baseball poll, defeated Hawai’i-Hilo five times last weekend in Hilo, Hawai’i, winning by the scores of 12-4, 2-1, 5-1, 6-3 and 8-1. Hawai’i-Hilo is only 1-17 on the season.
Nebraska features preseason All-American third baseman Alex Gordon. Baseball America rated Gordon as the top junior in the nation.
In its college preview issue, Baseball America picked the Huskers to finish fifth in the Big 12 Conference.
SERIES NOTES:
Nebraska leads, 15-7Streak: Nebraska - Six gamesCoach Alday vs. Nebraska: 5-8; Neutral sites: 3-3Last UNM win: New Mexico 7, Nebraska 5 (March 26, 1997 @ Honolulu, Hawai'i)Last NU win: Nebraska 14, New Mexico 7 (April 6, 2004 @ Lincoln, Neb.)
HEAD COACH: Mike Anderson. Overall record: 88-41 (Fourth year). Record at Nebraska: Same.
WESTERN CAROLINA CATAMOUNTS (2-1)
Western Carolina returns 13 letterwinners from last season’s team that finished 28-31 and eighth in the Southern Conference with a 12-18 league record.
The Catamounts started their season by defeating Wright State in two of three games at home last weekend. Blake Murphy is batting .364 with a homer and four RBI to lead WCU in its first three games.
Baseball America picked Western Carolina to finish sixth in the Southern Conference.
SERIES NOTES: First meeting.
HEAD COACH: Todd Raleigh. Overall record: 151-140 (Sixth year). Record at WCU: Same.
No. 7 RICE OWLS (8-1)
Rice returns 15 letterwinners from last season’s team that finished 46-14 and advanced to the NCAA Regionals. Rice is off to another fast start, winning eight of their first nine games. The Owls topped Southwest Missouri State, No. 15 Mississippi and Lamar at home last weekend. They beat Houston in 10 innings on Tuesday. Their lone loss of the year came at the hands of No. 8 Baylor.
Baseball America picked Rice to finish first in the Western Athletic Conference.
Danny Lehmann leads the Owl offense with three homers, 11 RBI and a .364 batting average. Josh Geer is the ace of the staff with a 3-0 record and 0.96 ERA.
SERIES NOTES:
Rice leads, 17-2Streak: Rice - Seven gamesCoach Alday vs. Rice: 2-17; in Houston: 0-11Last UNM win: New Mexico 27, Rice 26 (April 12, 1998 @ Albuquerque)Last Rice win: Rice 9, New Mexico 5 (Feb. 17, 2002 @ Houston)
HEAD COACH: Wayne Graham. Overall record: 1,165-352 (25th year). Record at Rice: 590-239 (14th year)
THE ESSENTIALS: CLIFF NOTES FROM THE TEXAS STATE SERIES
Texas State took two of three games from New Mexico last weekend (Feb. 18-20) at Isotopes Park
Sophomore DH Chris Carlson hit .455 (5-for-11) in the series with seven RBI
Freshman second baseman Jordan Pacheco extended his hitting streak to eight games by going 6-for-13 (.429) in the series
New Mexico used an 11-run seventh inning to pull away from Texas State in Friday’s opener, 19-5…the Lobos slugged out a season-high 18 hits…Chris Carlson had a monster day at the plate, going 3-for-5 with six RBI and a three-run homer…Matt Foote had a career day, driving in five homers and hitting his first career homer…Daniel Stovall went 3-for-6 with three RBI.
The Bobcats built a 5-0 after an inning and a half in Saturday’s 10-6 win over the Lobos…UNM cut it to 6-5 after four innings, but Texas State scored two in the sixth and the ninth in the victory…the Lobos had the bases loaded with no outs in the bottom of the ninth but couldn’t score a run.
UNM led 2-0 after four innings in the series finale, but the Bobcats tied it at 2 in the fifth…Texas State broke the game open with five runs in the seventh, including a grand slam by Elliot Babcock, to put the game out of reach…Texas State tacked on two more in the eighth to make the final 9-2.
AROUND THE HORN –
OFFENSIVELY: New Mexico is third in the Mountain West Conference with a .300 batting average, jumping 17 points over the weekend. The Lobos lead the league in triples (seven), doubles (25), hits (104), RBI (70) and runs (79).
PITCHING: The Lobo pitching staff is fifth in the league with a 9.00 ERA and second with 57 strikeouts.
FIELDING: The Lobos are second in the conference with a .961 fielding percentage and lead the league with 12 double plays.
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 for a fourth straight weekend:
GM. 1 – Friday vs. No. 27 Nebraska – 12 p.m. – #28 RH Sr. Jason Fernandez (2-1, 5.50 ERA)
— Led Lobos last season in wins (seven) and innings pitched (94.0)
— Led the Mountain West in 2004 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
— Picked up first win of the season Feb. 12 vs. New Mexico State, surrendering 13 hits and four runs with two strikeouts in six innings of action
— Second win of the year vs. Texas State (Feb. 18), firing seven innings and only surrendering three runs on six hits
GM. 2 – Saturday vs. Western Carolina – 3:30 p.m. – #11 RH Sr. Karsten Gaarder (1-2, 7.88 ERA)
— Gaarder appeared in 19 games in 2004, starting in four (3-3 record)
— 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
— Named Mountain West Pitcher of the Week after his win over New Mexico State Feb. 13…Gaarder only allowed five hits – all singles – and two runs while fanning eight Aggies in 7.1 innings
— Suffered loss in outing vs. Texas State, giving up nine hits and six runs in three innings
GM. 3 – Sunday vs. No. 7 Rice – 12 p.m. – #21 RH Jr. Darren Coltrinari (1-2, 11.57 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
— Took the loss at Arizona Feb. 6, giving up six runs on six hits in 2.1 innings of work
— Earned the victory vs. New Mexico State Feb. 13 after going five innings and striking out five
— Tough loss vs. Texas State Feb. 20, going 6.1 innings and allowing seven hits and four runs while fanning five
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 is one of 55 players currently on the Wallace Watch List for the 2005 season. The Brooks Wallace Award is presented annually to the national college baseball player of the year. 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.
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 hitter in the MWC along with top defensive first baseman honors.
Thus far this season, Stovall is living up to his preseason billing. The Midland, Texas, native is tied for the Mountain West lead with 14 RBI and is batting .350 with a homer and five doubles. He was named the Mountain West Player of the Week Feb. 14 for his 7-for-13 showing (.538) in the home New Mexico State series, slugging three doubles, eight RBI and a homer in the three-game sweep of the the Aggies.
BARBA MOVING TO SHORTSTOP
Junior Ryan Barba, a starter at second base the past two seasons, will move over to the left side of the infield and play at shortstop this season. A natural shortstop out of high school, Barba is an excellent fielder with great hands, and started six games at short last season.
Barba bats ninth in the Lobo lineup, but is more of a catalyst that sparks the top of the order. He is currently hitting .314 with five RBI and six runs.
LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON
After nearly redshirting in his first season, Matt Foote worked his way in the lineup late last season, becoming the starting third baseman with a solid glove and timely hitting. This year, Foote is making the transition to center field after the departure of All-MWC outfielder Matt Young. Foote, whose father played at UNM from 1976-80 and is currently a radio analyst for Lobo baseball, led the team in conference games in 2004 with a .429 batting average.
Center fielder Matt Foote |
This year, Foote is batting .279 with nine RBI to start the season. He had a career day at the plate against Texas State Feb. 18, going yard for the first time in his career while driving in a career-best five runs.
SPIT THIS
Junior catcher A.J. Spitaleri is solid behind the dish, but is even more effective when he stands on the side of the plate with a bat in his hands.
Spitaleri is second on the team with a .438 batting average and .526 on-base percentage. A good contact hitter who can bat for power and average, Spitaleri compiled a .339 batting average his freshman year and a .361 average his sophomore campaign.
YOU’RE NOT IN KANSAS ANYMORE
Sophomore DH and left fielder Chris Carlson, a powerful masher at the plate, has successfully made his way from Kansas State University to the No. 3 hitter in the Lobos’ lineup in less than a year.
A native of Topeka, Kan., Carlson played one year at KSU in 2004, batting .255 with three homers, 32 RBI and 15 doubles. Over the summer, Carlson transferred to the University of New Mexico, and is now one of UNM’s top sluggers in the box.
Carlson has stepped right into the Lobo lineup and made an impact. He is tied for the Mountain West lead with 14 RBI and also has five doubles. He leads UNM and is second in the MWC with 12 runs. Against Texas State Feb. 18, Carlson went 3-for-5 with six RBI, including a three-run homer.
Chris’ brother, Nick, is a freshman infielder on this year’s team.
MAKING A TRANSITION IN YOUR OWN HOMETOWN
Freshman Jordan Pacheco is adjusting to college life and making the transition from high school to Division I baseball this season – but at least he’s comfortable with his surroundings. Pacheco, who led Albuquerque’s La Cueva High School to back-to-back state championships, is now the starting second baseman for his hometown Lobos.
Pacheco has gotten off to a fast start in his first nine games, as he is seventh in the Mountain West with a .417 batting average and leads the league with 15 hits. He delivered six hits in last weekend’s series vs. Texas State and hit an inside-the-park homer Feb. 13 vs. New Mexico State.
Pacheco could also see time on the mound as a late reliever.
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 2-23 all-time when playing ranked teams on odd dates in February. UNM will play 27th-ranked Nebraska on Feb. 25 and seventh-ranked Rice on Feb. 27. The Lobos are 0-2 when playing Nebraska on odd dates in the shortest month of the year (2/21/04 – No. 23 Nebraska 12, New Mexico 8; 2/15/02 – No. 8 Nebraska 3, New Mexico 2).
LOBOS TO MEET 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 Saturday, March 12 and be sold at the Isotopes Park Box Office. Call the Isotopes Park Ticket Office at 924-2255 for ticket information.
“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.