March 2, 2005
Complete Lobo Baseball Release in PDF Format
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NEXT IN LOBO BASEBALL
Northern Colorado (1-8) at New Mexico (4-8)
FRIDAY-SUNDAY, MARCH 4-6 — ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — ISOTOPES PARK (11,124)
SCHEDULE:
Friday, March 4 - 6 p.m.Saturday, March 5 - 2 p.m.Sunday, March 6 - 1 p.m.
MEDIA COVERAGE:
RADIO: All games will be broadcast on GoLobos.com with Henry Tafoya, Dan Rivera and Mike Foote calling the action. Saturday and Sunday’s games will also be available on KDEF 1150 AM.
Lobo Baseball Broadcast Home Page
LIVE STATS: Live stats of all games will be available at GoLobos.com. Look in the upcoming events box on the right side of the main page at GoLobos.com, look for Baseball, and click on Gametracker.
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: The Lobos lead the all-time series, 10-9-1. The two teams last met on March 17, 2003 at Lobo Field, with UNM pulling out a 17-12 victory.
PROJECTED PITCHING ROTATION:
Friday:UNC: #31 LH Sr. Angelo Telitz (0-2, 14.14 ERA)vs.UNM: #28 RH Sr. Jason Fernandez (2-2, 6.57 ERA, 24.2 IP, 18 K)
Saturday:UNC: #22 RH Sr. Craig Ayers (0-2, 14.73 ERA)vs.UNM: #2 LH So. Danny Ray Herrera (0-1, 7.20 ERA, 5.0 IP, 1 K)
Sunday:UNC: #34 LH Jr. Evan Linn (0-0, 4.61 ERA)vs.UNM: #21 RH Jr. Darren Coltrinari (1-2, 11.57 ERA, 14.0 IP, 10 K)
LOBOS LOOK TO GET BACK ON WINNING TRACK, HOST NORTHERN COLORADO THIS WEEKEND: After falling in both games last weekend at the Crowne Plaza/Rice Invitational in Houston, the New Mexico baseball team will look to snap a four-game losing streak by hosting Northern Colorado this weekend (March 4-6) at Isotopes Park. The series begins Friday, March 4 at 6 p.m. Please note that Saturday’s game at 2 p.m. was originally scheduled for 6 p.m. – it was changed last week due to a conflict with the men’s basketball game at The Pit starting at 7 p.m. The series finale will be Sunday at 1 p.m.
Live stats via Gametracker will be available for all three games at GoLobos.com; Friday’s game will be broadcast on the internet only at GoLobos.com; Saturday and Sunday’s games will be broadcast on KDEF 1150 AM as well as GoLobos.com.
The Lobos (4-8) have been a streaky team to start the season. The Lobos lost their first four games, then went on a four-game winning streak before dropping their next four.
Northern Colorado enters the week with a 1-8 record after losing two of three last weekend at Kansas. The Bears have also been swept by Arizona and Creighton.
In last weekend’s action, No. 27 Nebraska shutout UNM, 12-0, in the first game of the Crowne Plaza/Rice Invitational. The Lobos then dropped a heartbreaker to Western Carolina, 14-13 in 12 innings, on Sunday. All of the tournament’s action on Saturday was postponed due to inclement weather, leading to a revised schedule on Sunday. Therefore, UNM did not play No. 7 Rice due to previous travel arrangements.
Nebraska claimed the unofficial tournament title with a 2-0 record. In addition to beating UNM, the Huskers topped No. 7 Rice, 6-3 in eight innings, Sunday afternoon. In other tournament action, Rice defeated Western Carolina twice, 9-1 on Friday and 8-4 on Sunday.
HISTORY LESSON – LOBOS-BEARS 101
New Mexico leads the all-time series, 10-9-1
UNM won the last meeting, a 17-12 win on March 17, 2003 at Lobo Field
UNC defeated New Mexico, 11-2, in the 1962 NCAA Tournament District 7 playoffs in Greeley, Colo.
THE ESSENTIALS: CLIFF NOTES FROM THE RICE INVITATIONAL
New Mexico lost both of its games at last weekend’s Crowne Plaza/Rice Invitational in Houston, Texas
No. 27 Nebraska shutout UNM, 12-0, on Friday, Feb. 25…NU’s Joba Chamberlain didn’t allow a run and struck out 15 batters in seven innings of work to earn National Pitcher of the Week honors…the Lobos were limited to three hits in the game, including two by Jordan Pacheco…the Huskers went on to beat Rice, 6-3, on Sunday to remain undefeated at 7-0…Nebraska moved up to No. 18 in this week’s Collegiate Baseball poll.
Western Carolina defeated UNM, 14-13 in 12 innings, on Sunday, Feb. 27…the Lobos led 11-8 going into the top of the ninth inning, but gave up three runs – on no hits – to send the game into extra innings…WCU scored two in the 10th to go up 13-11, but Daniel Stovall hit a one-out, two-run homer in the bottom of the 10th to knot the game at 13…the Catamounts scored the game-winning run on a two-out infield single in the top of the 12th.
Daniel Stovall tied a career high with five hits (5-for-7) to go along with four runs and four RBI in Sunday’s loss to Western Carolina
Jordan Pacheco leads the MWC with a .422 batting average. |
Jordan Pacheco extended his hitting streak to 10 games by going 4-for-9 in the tournament’s two games.
Garrick Haymore tallied a career high with three doubles and went 4-for-6 with two runs and two RBI vs. Western Carolina.
Although he picked up the loss to No. 27 Nebraska, Jason Fernandez struck out a UNM-high 10 batters against the Huskers.
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 leads the Mountain West with 18 RBI and is tied the conference lead in doubles (seven) and hits (19) in addition to batting .380. He was named the MWC Player of the Week Feb. 14 after batting .538 (7-for-13) in the New Mexico State series. Stovall went 5-for-7 with fours and four RBI in UNM’s loss to Western Carolina Feb. 27.
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 tops in the Mountain West with a .422 batting average and is tied for first in hits (19). Pacheco has hit safely in his last 10 games.
Senior left fielder Garrick Haymore belted a career-high three doubles vs. Western Carolina and is tied for the MWC lead with seven on the season. He owns a .405 batting average, good for third in the conference, and a .468 on-base percentage, good for fourth in the league.
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 1399-1284-14 (.521) 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 eight triples – seven of them coming in the Lobos’ six home games at The Lab.
New Mexico has played an extremely tough non-conference schedule, ranking the 16th most difficult in the nation to date (Boyd’s World). Arizona is off to an 11-3 start and is ranked No. 10 in the nation; Texas Tech is 11-1 and ranked 25th in the nation; and Nebraska is ranked 18th this week after starting out a perfect 7-0. Texas State is 10-3, Western Carolina is 3-3 and New Mexico State is 7-8. The Lobos were also scheduled to face No. 7 Rice, but the game was cancelled due to inclement weather in Houston last weekend.
SCOUTING THE OPPONENT
NORTHERN COLORADO BEARS (1-8)
Northern Colorado heads to Albuquerque with a 1-8 record. The Bears, a NCAA Division I Independent school, went 29-23 last season.
The Bears opened their season just like UNM, losing three games at Arizona in Tucson. UNC was also swept by Creighton. Northern Colorado lost two of three last weekend at Kansas in Lawrence. The Bears topped the Jayhawks, 3-2 in 11 innings, on Feb. 26 for their first win of the year.
Phil Delich leads the team with a .314 batting average. Craig Troxell and John Ray are tied for the team lead with six RBI.
SERIES NOTES:
New Mexico leads, 10-9-1Streak: New Mexico - Seven gamesCoach Alday vs. UNC: 1-0; Home: 1-0Last UNM win: New Mexico 17, Northern Colorado 12 (March 13, 2003 @ Albuquerque, N.M.)Last UNC win: Northern Colorado 9, New Mexico 8 (March 23, 1966)
HEAD COACH: Kevin Smallcomb. Overall record: 64-52 (Third year). Record at UNC: Same.
Northern Colorado Baseball Website
AROUND THE HORN –
OFFENSIVELY: New Mexico is fourth in the Mountain West Conference with a .289 batting average, falling 17 points over the weekend. The Lobos lead the league in triples (eight), doubles (31), hits (124), RBI (81) and runs (92).
PITCHING: The Lobo pitching staff is fifth in the league with an 8.58 ERA and second with 72 strikeouts.
FIELDING: The Lobos are tied for fourth in the conference with a .949 fielding percentage and lead the league with 14 double plays.
PLAYER NOTES –
A GLANCE AT THE LOBO STARTING PITCHERS
The Lobos will send senior right-hander Jason Fernandez, sophomore left-hander Danny Ray Herrera, and junior right-hander Darren Coltrinari to the mound this weekend:
GM. 1 – Friday – 6 p.m. – #28 RH Sr. Jason Fernandez (2-2, 6.57 ERA)
Preseason All-Mountain West
Leads Mountain West with 24.2 innings pitched
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 allowingfive 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
Although he struck out a UNM-high 10 batters vs. Nebraska Feb. 25, he still picked up the loss by giving up nine hits and eight runs in 6.2 innings of action
GM. 2 – Saturday – 2 p.m. – #2 LH So. Danny Ray Herrera (0-1, 7.20 ERA)
Talented lefty who keeps hitters off-balance with an array of off-speed pitches
Sophomore Danny Ray Herrera will make his first start of the season on Saturday. |
Did not see action until Feb. 19 vs. Texas State due to a sore arm; has made two relief appearances
Took the loss vs. Western Carolina, tossing three innings and allowing three runs and five hits
Was an all-star last summer for the Graham Roughnecks of the Texas Collegiate League
Started 14 games as a freshman, going 4-7 with a 5.33 ERA, although four of his seven losses were in one-run games
GM. 3 – Sunday – 1 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 leads the MWC with 18 RBI and is tied for the league lead in hits (19) and doubles (seven). 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 .310 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.
Sophomore Matt Foote |
This year, Foote is batting .235 with 10 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.
YOU’RE NOT IN KANSAS ANYMORESophomore 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 second in the MWC with 14 RBI and also has five doubles. He also leads the league with 15 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 12 games, as he is first in the Mountain West with a .422 batting average and is tied for the league lead with 19 hits. Pacheco, who currently owns a 10-game hitting streak, hit an inside-the-park homer Feb. 13 vs. New Mexico State. He also ranks second in total bases (32) and slugging (.711) in the conference stats.
Pacheco could also see time on the mound as a late reliever.
Hay…MORE PRODUCTION IN LEFT FIELD
Senior left fielder Garrick Haymore is making the most of his time in left field this season. Haymore is tied for the MWC lead with seven doubles and has a .405 batting average (third in the MWC) and .468 on-base percentage (fourth in the MWC). He belted a career-high three doubles and went 4-for-6 at the plate vs. Western Carolina Feb. 27.
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 156-65-3 (.703) all-time when playing “directional” schools, including a 40-25-1 (.612) record against the “north” direction. UNM hosts Northern Colorado this weekend at Isotopes Park.
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 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.