Feb. 12, 2007
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THE SERIES: The Lobos (1-3) look to rebound from a three-game skid in a single contest Tuesday at Presley Askew Field in Las Cruces, N.M. against New Mexico State (2-4). The Lobos plan to throw right-handed freshman Shane Dyer (0-1, 13.50 ERA) against the Aggies’ right-handed sophomore Noah Garza, who has yet to see action this season. First pitch is slated for 1:05 p.m.
AGGIES REVIEW: New Mexico State has dropped two in a row heading into Tuesday game. The Aggies are coming off a 18-1 beating from Mountain West Conference member Utah. At 2-4 overall, NMSU has played every game at home so far this season.
The Aggies, hitting .266 as a team, are led by Leo Aguirre and Joseph Scaperotta. Aguirre is hitting a team-high .500 with five RBI on six hits. Scaperotta, hitting .370, leads the team in runs (5), hits (10), doubles (4) and RBI (11). He also has the team’s only triple and one of their two home runs.
Brian Gausman has been the Aggies’ top starter to date, posting a 2.25 ERA, 2-0 record and 16 strikeouts in 12.0 innings. Frankie Duran has been the most-used reliever, making three appearances for 6.0 innings. In that time, he has struck out three while recording a 4.50 ERA. The entire NMSU staff holds a 6.33 ERA.
HISTORY LESSON: The Lobos hold a comfy 142-72 series advantage over New Mexico State, including a 68-24 mark in Albuquerque and 54-42 record in Las Cruces. Last year, in the four Tuesday-game series, UNM was victorious in three of the four, including both in Las Cruces.
INHERITED HEROES: Three Lobo pitchers have inherited runners this season and gotten out of the inning with none of them crossing the plate. Freshman Jarrad Watkins and junior Adam Skelton both have come in with three runners aboard while sophomore Brandon Hewett has taken on one.
STILL HITTING: Juniors Ian Hollick and Jordan Pacheco ended the 2006 season hitting and have started the 2007 season the same way. Hollick, who hit in nine straight games to end the season, has hit in four straight to start this year. Pacheco, who also has hit in four consecutive, ended the `06 season with a three-game streak. Joining in on the fun is senior Daniel Stovall, who has also hit safely in each game this season.
UNDER PRESSURE: The Lobo hitters are holding a .266 batting average after four games this season. However, with the bases empty, the team is hitting just .197 compared to its .317 average when runners are on. Freshman Scott Gracey and junior Ian Hollick have the best batting averages with runners on at .667 (2-for-3) and .556 (5-for-9), respectively. When the bags are empty, junior Jordan Pacheco can be counted on to pick things up, going 5-for-8 (.625).
BRING ON THE SOUTHPAWS: New Mexico’s pitching staff currently boasts a .269 opposing batting average. What the Lobos really like are lefties. UNM has allowed just nine hits in 38 at bats by left-handed hitters for a .237 average. Against righties, they haven’t fared as well, putting up a .358 average (34-for-95).
NEARING THE MILESTONES: Head coach Rich Alday is nearing two major coaching milestones. With a 488-486-3 record at New Mexico, he needs just 12 wins for 500. As a collegiate head coach, he is 984-706-3, leaving him just 16 victories shy of 1,000.