Mountain West Tournament Tickets
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – The University of New Mexico baseball team is entering the final series of the regular season at Air Force, just before the team hosts the Mountain West Conference Tournament on their home field. Months of training and 53 games have led the Lobos to a chance at a special end of the season.
The Lobos head into the last three games with a chance to win a share of the Mountain West Conference regular season title. The team already owns every tie break scenario, which leaves the top overall seed in the conference tournament, on their field, there for the taking. How did the team get to this point? For starters, the Lobos are the premier offensive team in the Mountain West and an elite hitting team in all of the NCAA.
The Lobos are currently reaching base at a .408 clip, which ranks in the national top-10. They are hitting .315 with power up and down the lineup, led by a combined 38 home runs for All-American candidates Carl Stajduhar and Chris DeVito.
Long-time Lobo fans have come to expect elite offense in Albuquerque, and the reason lies in the numbers:
| New Mexico Offense Stats and National Ranking | |||||
| Category | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 |
| Batting Average | .315 (12th) | .311 (6th) | .312 (5th) | .334 (1st) | .326 (5th) |
| Slugging | .483 (14th) | .456 (15th) | .403 (37th) | .504 (1st) | .472 (8th) |
| On Base | .408 (10th) | .404 (7th) | .383 (23rd) | .422 (1st) | .391 (21st) |
Since Ray Birmingham took over the program in 2008, the Lobos have finished as champions or runners up in the MW. This offensive dominance from year-to-year has led to five MW titles since 2011.
However, when it comes to success in the postseason, coach Birmingham has made it clear that it takes more than great bats. “It’s not about how you hit, it’s how well you pitch,” stated Birmingham Tuesday.
The veteran coach has also guided some of the best arms in program history. His 2012 team matched great hitting with a staff that ranked 22nd in the nation with 7.9 strikeouts/nine innings. The combination led to an undefeated run through the MW Tournament, where the team held three teams to a combined five runs.
Time will tell if the Lobos can make the leap on the mound in the big games to come. However, the personnel is in place for a run. The current staff has a strong mix of experienced veterans and talented youth.
The Lobos will look to several players in the coming weeks, including starter Tyler Stevens, who holds an ERA of 3.67 against MW opponents, ranking in the league’s top-5. Or a player like Carson Schneider, who’s stepped up big in last year’s conference tournament. Schneider helped send the Lobos to the championship game in 2015, throwing 7.1 innings with just one run allowed in a win over Fresno State. In the bullpen, the Lobos can turn to freshman Christian Tripp, who hasn’t allowed a run in his last five appearances.
We will find out soon enough how far the 2016 Lobos will go. Still, this year’s team measures up statistically to recent successful squads, and holds the talent to make a strong run in the weeks to come.
The Mountain West Conference Tournament begins in one week at Santa Ana Star Field. Fans in Albuquerque have a unique opportunity to come out and experience Mountain West Baseball all week by purchasing a All-Tournament pass, or grab a single day ticket. click HERE to get your tickets in advance.