ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – The University of New Mexico softball team is picked to finish right where they left off last season, in fourth of the Mountain West Preseason Poll that was announced Tuesday afternoon.
“It’s a sign of respect that they moved us up to fourth after being picked last season,” said head coach Erica Beach. “But only we can be the judge of what we are going to do. Hopefully we are above fourth and I want to surprise people again.”
Last season, the Lobos were picked last in the conference but ended up having one of their best seasons in program history. They finished with a 29-25 overall record and 13-11 in the Mountain West for a fourth place finish.
New Mexico put together five series wins, which included three straight series wins in the first four weekends of conference action. They also recorded their first-ever win over Nevada and their first Mountain West sweep since the 2011 season.
“I think we garnered some respect with our conference performance last year,” said Beach. “..and the expectations we’ve placed on ourselves based on the jump we made last season, is to hopefully be able to start where we left off and take that next step up where we are competing for first place.”
Fresno State is picked to be the favorite once again as they won the 2015 MW Title last season, going 20-4 and earning a trip to the postseason. San Diego State was picked second while San José State was tabbed to finish third in front of the Lobos. UNLV, Utah State and Colorado State round out the middle of the pack while Nevada and Boise State were picked eighth and ninth.
First pitch of the 2016 season will be this Friday as the Lobos head to Tempe, Ariz. to compete in the Kajikawa Classic for the fifth straight year. They open up with San Diego on Friday at 7 p.m. MT.