Feb. 5, 2007
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TODAY’S GAME: The New Mexico baseball team opens the 2007 season on the road, visiting Texas Tech on Tuesday, Feb. 6 for a 3 p.m. CT game. The Lobos expect to start junior lefty www.TexasTech.com.
RED RAIDERS REPORT: Texas Tech, 1-1 overall, split a two-game series with Stephen F. Austin last weekend on their home turf. The Red Raiders earned a 4-3 win in the 11th inning after rallying from a 3-0 deficit. TTU trailed by two in the second game before putting its lone run on the board in the eighth. The Red Raiders fell 2-1.
Geoff Byrns and Kyle Martin hold a team-high .333 batting average. Byrns also leads the team in runs (2) and RBI (2). Tuesday’s starter, Josh Scofield, threw an inning of relief in game one, allowing just one hit. Overall, Texas Tech has a .192 batting average, .988 fielding percentage and 2.25 ERA.
HISTORY LESSON: Texas Tech swept the four-game season series last year, extending its win streak against New Mexico to eight straight. The Lobos came within a run in the season-series opener in Albuquerque last year, falling 8-7 in 11 innings. The last time UNM came out with a win against the Red Raiders was March 16, 2004 in Albuquerque (4-1). They haven’t won in Texas since Feb. 2, 2003 (9-6).
Overall, Texas Tech holds a 51-30-1 series advantage. New Mexico is 16-33-1 vs. TTU at home and 14-36 on the road.
SEASON OPENERS: Under head coach Rich Alday, the Lobos have opened all but one season (2004) on the road. In road openers, they have posted a 4-11 record. However, their last road opener (Feb. 7, 2006 at New Mexico State) resulted in a 5-3 UNM win.
STICKING WITH THE SOUTHPAWS: The New Mexico baseball team is hoping to have success with another southpaw. Last year, Danny Ray Herrera was their best starter, going 10-0 to claim Co-MWC Player of the Year honors and All-American status. Herrera opened the 2006 season for UNM at New Mexico State, getting a 5-3 win. This year, New Mexico is against starting a lefty, junior transfer Jacob Norton.
SHAKING OFF THE RUST: Four Lobos are looking to come out swinging in 2007, extending multiple-game hit streaks dating back to the 2006 season. Junior Ian Hollick’s streak is the longest at nine games. Senior Matt Foote hit in five straight to end ’06 while junior Jordan Pacheco hit in three and senior Jay Russell hit in two.