ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – University of New Mexico senior right-handed pitcher Jake Cole was named Mountain West Pitcher of the Week, and freshman catcher Cory Voss was named Mountain West Player of the Week the Conference office announced today. It’s the first career win for both players.
Cole had a hand in both of UNM’s MW wins over Fresno State last weekend. He pitched a perfect ninth inning during Friday’s 12-7 win and struck out a pair. He was even better on Sunday as he matched his career-long outing by tossing 3.1 hitless innings of relief to earn his first win of the season. He struck out three and allowed just two base runners: one each via a walk and hit by pitch. He came on with the bases loaded and two outs in a 1-1 game. He got the first batter to fly out to left on his second pitch to keep the game tied, and when the Lobos scored twice in the bottom of the inning he went on to close out the rest of the game and clinch the series for UNM.
“Jake Cole is a professional,” UNM head coach Ray Birmingham said. “The thing I point out to the team is he’s not a drama queen. He just comes here to do his job every day. He works at his job every day. He gets in the game, and he does his job.”
Voss had multiple hits in all four of UNM’s games last week and batted .562 (9-for-16) with an .875 slugging percentage. In Tuesday’s 7-6 win at No. 18 Texas Tech he went 2-for-5 with a double and a run scored. His double jump-started the Lobos’ four-run second inning that helped them snap a six-game losing streak. In Friday’s 12-7 win over the Bulldogs he tied a career high with three hits, one of which was a double. He also scored twice and drove in one. In Saturday’s 8-1 loss he had two of UNM’s four hits in a 2-for-4 performance that included his third double in as many games. In Sunday’s 5-1 series-clinching victory he reached base safely in all four plate appearances. He went 2-for-2 with a pair of walks, a run and an RBI triple, which was his team- and conference-leading fifth of the season. Defensively he recorded five assists from his position behind the plate.
These are the first two weekly honors for UNM this season.
2015 Mountain West Baseball Players of the Week
Feb. 16 – Brody Russell, Jr., OF, Fresno State
Feb. 23 – Austin Byler, Sr., 1B, Nevada
March 2 – Steven Pallares, Sr., OF, San Diego State
March 9 – Ryan Howell, Jr., 2B, Nevada
March 16 – Bradley Haslam, So., DH, Air Force
March 23 – Kevin Viers, Jr., 1B, Fresno State
March 30 – Cory Voss, Fr., C, New Mexico
2015 Mountain West Baseball Pitchers of the Week
Feb. 16 – Jake Shull, Jr. RHP, Fresno State
Feb. 23 – C.J. Saylor, So., RHP, San Diego State
March 2 – Griffin Jax, So., RHP, Air Force
March 9 – Kenny Oakley, Jr., RHP, UNLV
March 16 – Bubba Derby, Jr., RHP, San Diego State
March 23 – Marcus Reyes, So., LHP, San Diego State
March 30 – Jake Cole, Sr., RHP, New Mexico