ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – The college baseball season is quickly approaching, and with it comes numerous projections and predictions. One of the leading websites covering the sport, D1Baseball.com, released its Mountain West predictions today, and the University of New Mexico Lobos are in a familiar place: at the top of the standings.
Despite having its four-year streak of chamionships snapped last season, the Lobos were still just one game away — and one swing away — from reaching the NCAAs last season. The staff at D1Baseball sees UNM as the team to beat in the MW in the regular season. With a lineup that features mashers in sophomore Carl Stajduhar and juniors Jack Zoellner and Chris DeVito batting behind top-of-the-lineup guys like Danny Collier and Reece Weber, the Lobos should once again feature a formidable offense.
UNM’s lineup should be able to provide plenty of support to a talented and experienced pitching staff. Senior Colton Thomson, junior Carson Schneider, 2015 Freshman All-American Tyler Stevens and two-way players such as Luis Gonzalez and Hayden Schilling will likely find themselves pitching with a lead a lot in 2016.
The Lobos open the season on Feb. 19 at Hawai’i. The home opener at Santa Ana Star Field is the following Friday at 6 p.m. against Wichita State.