REGIONAL CENTRAL | REGIONAL NOTES
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – The University of New Mexico baseball team is set to begin competition in the 2016 NCAA Lubbock Regional, hosted by Texas Tech. The first game for the Lobos is scheduled for Friday at 6 p.m. CT/5 p.m. MT against Dallas Baptist on ESPN3.
In a double elimination format, the Lobos are looking to advance from the four-team field and earn a spot in the super regional set for the following weekend. Hosts Texas Tech is the top seed, followed by second-seeded Dallas Baptist, third-seed New Mexico and fourth-seed Fairfield.
Every game in the tournament, which was sold out before being offered to the general public by Texas Tech, will be featured on ESPN3. Check back throughout the tournament for television listings, as ESPN2 and ESPNU have the rights to pick up any game..
The Lobos will be making their sixth appearance in the NCAA Tournament and fifth since 2010. The Lobos last took part in NCAA Regionals for four straight years from 2010-2013. Head coach Ray Birmingham has been a big part of the program being a near-staple in the tournament in recent years. Birmingham has coached five of the six Lobo teams that have qualified for the NCAA Tournament, with the first ending a 48-year drought in the NCAA postseason.
This season, the Lobos assured their place in the tournament with a Mountain West Conference Championship last week. The Lobos hosted the tournament, becoming the first team to win it at home since 2008. New Mexico shutout Nevada to open the tournament, defeated Air Force and went on to run-rule Nevada in the championship game. The Lobos are well rested in the bull pen, only using a total of four pitchers the entire tournament.
For complete coverage of the tournament, click HERE for the Regional Central page and follow @UNMLoboBaseball on Twitter.