April 2, 2007
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THE GAME: The Lobos (14-18, 3-3 MWC) take a break from Mountain West Conference action, playing the Albuquerque Isotopes in a seven-inning exhibition game Tuesday night at Isotopes Park. Right-handed freshman www.GoLobos.com via Lobos’ All-Access. CSTV’s GameTracker is also available, providing up-to-the-minute stats, play-by-play and more.
THE PAST: The last two consecutive years the Lobos have played an exhibition game with the Isotopes, Triple-A affiliate of the Florida Marlins. The two met for the first time in an exhibition game at Isotopes Park on Tuesday, April 5, 2005 before 3,692 fans, with the Isotopes coming out on top in seven innings, 17-4.
Last year the New Mexico baseball team scored first but the Isotopes scored more thanks to a five-run third that lifted them to a 6-2 win in front of 3,171 fans on Tuesday, April 4, 2006. Then-junior Matt Foote completed the evening 3-for-3, scoring both of UNM’s runs. Junior Chris Carlson was 2-for-3 with a RBI.
LOOKING AT THE LOBOS: New Mexico is 14-18 overall and 3-3 in the Mountain West Conference. The Lobos took the first two of a three-game series with San Diego State over the weekend at Isotopes Park.
Jordan Pacheco led the Lobo offense against the Aztecs, producing team highs in batting average (.583), runs (6), hits (7) and RBI (5). He had the long home run for UNM on the weekend, ending the team’s 13-game home run drought. Pacheco drew two walks on the weekend and didn’t strikeout out once in 12 at bats. On Friday night, he went 4-for-5 with five RBI for the second straight game, earning head coach Rich Alday his 500th at UNM. His five RBI tied his career high, set last weekend in the final game with Utah. On Saturday, Pacheco went 1-for-2, drawing two of the team’s five walks and scoring a team-leading three runs. On Sunday, he was one of two Lobos to have multiple hits vs. SDSU and one of five to score.
Saturday night vs. San Diego State, Stephen Smith pitched one of the best games of his season, going a career-high 7.1 innings. It was the first time in his nine appearances that he did not surrender a walk and was just the second time in eight starts he struck out more than four batters. With his third win as a Lobo, he handed SDSU ace Bruce Billings his first loss of the season. The win was also New Mexico’s fourth straight over the Aztecs. In each of the first three innings, he struck out the first batter he faced, all swinging. Smith held SDSU to just four hits through the first seven innings.