May 17, 2005
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NEXT IN LOBO BASEBALL
New Mexico (23-29, 13-14 MWC) at Air Force (8-40, 3-24 MWC)
THURSDAY-SATURDAY, MAY 19-21 — COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. — FALCON FIELD
SCHEDULE:
Thursday, May 19 - 2 p.m.Friday, May 20 - 2 p.m.Saturday, May 21 - 12 p.m.
MEDIA COVERAGE:
LIVE STATS: Live stats available at www.AirForceSports.com
SERIES INFORMATION: New Mexico leads the all-time series, 88-38. The Lobos have won 16 straight over the Falcons, including a three-game sweep April 15-17 at Isotopes Park this season.
PROJECTED PITCHING MATCHUPS:
Thursday:UNM: #11 RH Sr. Karsten Gaarder (2-7, 6.62 ERA, 68.0 IP, 58 K)vs.AF: #23 RH Jr. Clayton Couch (0-2, 8.78 ERA, 27.2 IP, 18 K)
Friday:UNM: #2 LH So. Danny Ray Herrera (7-4, 5.61 ERA, 78.2 IP, 55 K)vs.AF: #28 RH Jr. Kyle DePierre (1-3, 10.12 ERA, 32.0 IP, 32 K)
Saturday:UNM: #21 RH Jr. Darren Coltrinari (7-4, 8.68 ERA, 84.0 IP, 62 K)vs.AF: TBA
The New Mexico baseball team closes out the regular season with a three-game series at Air Force this week (Thursday-Saturday, May 19-21) in Colorado Springs at Falcon Field. The Lobos (23-29), who lost to Texas Tech 14-6 Monday in Lubbock, enter the week in fourth place in the Mountain West standings with a 13-14 league record. Live stats of all three games will be available at www.AirForceSports.com.
UNM has won its last two conference series and four of its last five games. A week after taking two of three in Provo over BYU for the first time since 2000, the Lobos claimed another series victory against San Diego State last weekend at Isotopes Park.
New Mexico recorded its largest margin of victory over SDSU in school history with a 16-0 thrashing in the opening game of the series. Senior right-hander Karsten Gaarder hurled a spectacular four-hit complete-game shutout for the Lobos, while Jordan Pacheco went 5-for-6 with two homers and five RBI. Gaarder was named the Mountain West Pitcher of the Week for his efforts against the Aztecs, marking the second time this season he has won the award.
The Lobos got another stellar pitching performance in the 4-1 game two victory as Danny Ray Herrera tossed eight strong innings while scattering seven hits on five strikeouts. Jesse Perez closed the ninth to preserve the victory.
After Lobo pitching held the Aztecs scoreless for 16 consecutive innings, San Diego State finally broke through in game three, salvaging the final game of the series with a 28-10 triumph.
Air Force (8-40, 3-24 MWC) is coming off its first series win of the season after winning two of three at Utah last weekend. The Lobos swept the Falcons earlier this season at home.
A GLANCE AT THE MOUNTAIN WEST CONFERENCE RACE
The Mountain West race will come down to the final weekend of the season as UNLV (20-7) only has a one-game lead over second-place BYU (19-8) with three games remaining. The Cougars gained one game last week by taking two of three over UNLV in Provo. The Rebels host Utah this weekend, while BYU travels to third-place San Diego State, who has a 16-11 conference record. New Mexico, which sits in fourth place at 13-14, will play in one of the two first-round games in the conference tournament in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, May 25. The top two teams in the standings receive a bye in the first round, while No. 3 plays No. 6 and No. 4 plays No. 5.
The Lobos still have a shot at the No. 3 seed in the tournament. For that to happen, the Lobos need to sweep Air Force and San Diego State needs to get swept by BYU. The Lobos and Aztecs would have identical 16-14 league records, and the season series is tied at 3-3. The next tiebreaker is head-to-head record vs. the first-place team on down through the standings. UNM and SDSU both went 1-5 against UNLV, but the Lobos have an edge over the next place team, BYU. UNM is 3-3 against BYU, while if the Aztecs get swept this weekend, they would be 1-5. If San Diego State wins just one game against BYU, even if New Mexico sweeps Air Force, the Lobos will be the No. 4 seed in the tournament. Heading into the weekend, the only seed that is set is the No. 6 seed, which will be Air Force.
Here’s a look at the conference standings:
MOUNTAIN WEST STANDINGS (as of May 17)
1. UNLV (20-7)2. BYU (19-8)3. San Diego St. (16-11)4. New Mexico (13-14)5. Utah (10-17)6. Air Force (3-24)
ON DECK
The Lobos head to Salt Lake City next week for the Mountain West Conference Baseball Tournament which runs from Wednesday, May 25 to Saturday, May 28. The Lobos will play in one of the two first round games on Wednesday, May 25. The all-conference team and individual player awards will be announced at the banquet on Tuesday, May 24.
HISTORY LESSON – LOBOS VS. FALCONS 101
New Mexico leads the all-time series, 88-38
Coach Alday is 65-16 vs. Air Force; 26-13 in Colorado Springs
The Lobos have won 16 straight over Air Force
The last time Air Force beat UNM was April 21, 2002 in Colorado Springs, as the Falcons swept a doubleheader over the Lobos
LOBOS IN THE NCAA STATS
The NCAA released its sixth statistics report of the season May 17, and the Lobos were well represented. Here’s a look at the report:
Chris Carlson is ninth in the nation with 71 RBI. |
As a team, New Mexico is second in the nation in triples with 0.73 per game (37 total). Garrick Haymore is third in the nation with nine triples (0.20 pg).
The Lobos also rank among the top 15 in four more categories: slugging (6th – .539), homers (7th – 1.35 pg), scoring (9th – 8.5 pg) and batting average (11th – .330).
Chris Carlson ranks among the top 50 in five categories: RBI (9th – 1.36 pg), slugging (11th – .737), runs (32nd – 1.2 pg), doubles (45th – 0.38) and batting (61st – .389).
Jordan Pacheco ranks among the top 50 in four categories: hits (T-3rd – 91), batting (19th – .416), slugging (18th – .726) and runs (22nd – 1.27 pg).
GET OUT THOSE BINOCULARS – LOBOS TO WATCH
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 leads the Mountain West in hits (91), batting (.414), runs (62), and total bases (159). He also ranks among the Mountain West leaders in slugging (.723), on-base percentage (.456), homers (14), doubles (16) and triples (five). Pacheco had a 19-game hitting streak earlier this season.
Pacheco is one of 64 players on the Dick Hower College Baseball Player of the Year watch list, as announced by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association. He is one of only two freshmen on the watch list. The membership of the NCBWA will choose the Xanthus-Dick Howser Trophy based on three rounds of voting. The 2005 winner will be announced at the College World Series in Omaha on Friday, June 17, at 9:30 a.m. CDT. The Dick Howser Trophy, given in memory of the former Florida State University All-America shortstop and major league player and manager who died of brain cancer in 1987, is regarded by many as college baseball’s most prestigious award.
Sophomore first baseman Daniel Stovall, who landed spots on the Collegiate Baseball Freshman All-America and All-Mountain West teams last year, is currently one of 132 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. Stovall is certainly avoiding the sophomore jinx, as he’s improving in every offensive category this season – he’s batting .350 with seven homers, 50 RBI and 17 doubles.
Sophomore DH/outfielder Chris Carlson is one of the top sluggers in the Mountain West. He leads the team in doubles (20), walks (36), slugging (.732), on-base percentage (.475) and RBI (71). He is also second on the team in homers with 13 and is third in the MWC in batting with a .387 average. Carlson is getting it done in conference play as well, leading the team in league games with 38 RBI and a .410 batting average.
Senior outfielder Garrick Haymore is third on the team with a .370 batting average and is second on the team with a .396 average in conference games. Haymore, who hit three triples in the Air Force series, is third in the nation with nine triples.
NATIONAL FRESHMAN, SECOND BASEMAN OF THE YEAR?
Second baseman Jordan Pacheco – who leads the team in batting (.414), runs (62), hits (91), total bases (159) and homers (14) – is making a strong case for National Freshman of the Year honors. Pacheco is one of only two freshmen on the Dick Hower National Player of the Year Watch List.
Jordan Pacheco leads the Mountain West in batting, hits, runs and total bases. |
Not only is Pacheco performing well in the Mountain West, he’s also stepping up against top competition – in 11 games against top 100 (RPI) competition, he’s batting .389 (14-for-36) with four RBI, and in eight games against the top 50, he’s batting .364 (8-for-22) with three RBI.
Measured up against the top freshmen in the nation according to the Baseball America Midseason All-Freshmen team, Pacheco leads the elite group in batting (.414), hits (91), total bases (159) and slugging (.723).
For a complete comparison, please check page five in the New Mexico Baseball Notes.
DON’T LEAVE FOR THE BALLPARK WITHOUT THEM – CAN’T MISS NOTES
The Lobos claimed their 1400th win in program history with their 11-6 win March 4 vs. Northern Colorado. UNM is 1416-1303-14 (.521) all-time in its history.
Coach Alday, already the winningest coach in New Mexico history, claimed his 950th career victory May 13 vs. San Diego State. He won his 450th game at New Mexico on April 17 in the second game of a doubleheader against Air Force. Alday is 950-671-3 all-time, and 454-451-3 at UNM.
UNM tied an NCAA record with 11 consecutive hits in the second inning of the March 11 game against Savannah State, a 20-7 win…16 consecutive Lobos reached base to start the inning, four shy of tying another NCAA mark…all in all, the Lobos scored 15 runs and collected 13 hits in the inning.
Get out the brooms – the Lobos have five three-game series sweeps this season (New Mexico State, Northern Colorado, Savannah State, Utah, Air Force), the most since the 2000 season, when the regular season champs got out the brooms six times.
TOP PERFORMANCES OF THE WEEK (MAY 12-14 VS. SDSU)
Junior shortstop Ryan Barba hit a team-best .533 (8-for-15) with four triples, a homer and four RBI. He also scored three times. Barba hit two triples in back-to-back games on Thursday and Friday.
Jordan Pacheco had another outstanding week at the plate, collecting seven hits in 15 at-bats, good for a .467 average. Pacheco went 5-for-6 with two homers and five RBI in the first game of the series.
Junior right fielder Chris Dabbs is starting to heat up at the plate at the right time. Dabbs went 6-for-13 (.462) with four runs and five RBI last week. He hit two homers in the series finale.
Chris Carlson tallied two homers and went 3-for-4 with three RBI and three runs in the first game of the series. Overall, he hit .385 (5-for-13) with four runs and five RBI.
Karsten Gaarder tossed the first complete-game shutout for UNM since Jamie Vermilyea accomplished the feat on Feb. 8, 2003 vs. New Mexico Highlands. Gaarder’s four-hit gem on Thursday was his first complete game as a Lobo.
DOCTOR, DOCTOR
The Lobos have lost four players for the season due to injury, and could be without two starters this week due to injury.
Freshman second baseman Jordan Pacheco, who exited the Texas Tech game on Monday after being hit in the mouth in the third inning, is questionable for this weekend.
The Lobos suffered another setback as senior left fielder Garrick Haymore was sidelined during the San Diego State series with a sore hamstring. Haymore could return to the lineup as early as this weekend, and is probable for the conference tournament.
Senior right-hander Jason Fernandez, the Lobos No. 1 conference starter the past two seasons, is out for the season with a knee injury. He was scratched just minutes before the April 29 game against Utah. Fernandez was 6-5 with a 7.24 ERA in 73.1 innings of action this season.
Junior catcher A.J. Spitaleri, a preseason All-Mountain West selection, will miss the remainder of the season due to a shoulder injury. Spitaleri only appeared in six games, but was batting .438 with a homer and four RBI. Spitaleri hit .339 as a freshman and .361 as a sophomore.
Redshirt freshman Chad Itokazu suffered an ankle injury in practice in early March and will also be unavailable for the rest of the year. Itokazu, who saw action in 12 games at right field, second base and shortstop, was batting .292 with two homers and five RBI.
Freshman pitcher Brandon Hewett, who was coming off shoulder surgery last spring, reaggravated his right arm this spring and will not throw the rest of the season.
NOTES FROM THE FIRST AIR FORCE SERIES
The Lobos swept the Falcons at Isotopes Park April 15-17
Jason Fernandez picked up the win in game one, scattering eight hits and four runs in seven innings as UNM won, 7-4…Garrick Haymore went 2-for-4 with four RBI.
Saturday’s game, Pack the Park Night, was called off due to heavy rain
New Mexico swept the doubleheader on Sunday, taking game one, 18-7, and game two, 12-6…Danny Ray Herrera won the first game on the mound and Darren Coltrinari won the second game.
The Lobos slugged out 30 runs and 39 hits in the doubleheader…UNM hit .411 in the series with five homers
Jordan Pacheco went 3-for-4 with four RBI in game one and 3-for-5 with three runs in game two of the doubleheader…he also pitched an inning of scoreless relief in game two.
Jeff Grady went 4-for-8 with seven RBI in the doubleheader, including two homers in game two
Garrick Haymore hit three triples in the doubleheader, and tied a school record with two in the second game…he had eight RBI in the series.
AROUND THE HORN –
AT THE PLATE…New Mexico leads the Mountain West with 37 triples. The Lobos are second to BYU in batting (.330), slugging (.539), hits (621), doubles (113), RBI (393), homers (69) and total bases (1015).
ON THE MOUND…The Lobo pitching staff is fifth in the league with an 8.12 ERA and third with 337 strikeouts.
IN THE FIELD…The Lobos are first in the conference with a .964 fielding percentage.
SCOUTING THE OPPONENT – AIR FORCE (8-40, 3-24 MWC)
Although Air Force is in last place in the Mountain West with a 3-24 league record, the Falcons have won three of their last eight conference games, including a series win at Utah last weekend. The Falcons also topped second-place BYU, 8-7 in 11 innings, in a suspended game on April 30. The Falcons will be the No. 6 seed in next week’s conference tournament.
SERIES NOTES:
Last series win: 4/15-17, 2005Last series loss: 4/19-21, 2002Last home series win: 4/15-17, 2005Last home series loss: NeverLast road series win: 4/16-18, 2004Last road series loss: 4/19-21, 2002Last UNM series sweep: 4/15-17, 2005Last time swept: 4/19-21, 2002Last 10 games: 10-0Alday vs. AF: 65-16Longest UNM win streak: 16 (current)Longest UNM losing streak: 4 (twice)Last UNM win: 4/17/05 (12-2)Last UNM loss: 4/21/02 (11-9)Last UNM home win: 4/17/05 (12-2)Last UNM home loss: 3/22/02 (8-4)Last UNM road win: 4/18/04 (18-6)Last UNM road loss: 4/21/02 (11-9)Last UNM shutout win: 4/29/01 (6-0)Last UNM shutout loss: 5/13/88 (11-0)Highest scoring game: 42 (W, 31-11, 4/17/04)Largest margin of victory: 23 (W, 5/2/03, 25-2)Largest margin of defeat: 12 (5/4/63, 17-5)Most runs by UNM: 31 (W, 31-11, 4/17/04)Most runs by AF: 17 (W, 17-5, 5/3/63)UNM in one-run games: 17-4