ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — With The University of New Mexico baseball program reaching new heights over the last decade, the alumni talent base continues to grow and grow.
It was on full display Saturday as behind strong outings from Colorado Rockies minor leaguer Austin House (who finished the 2016 season with the Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes) and former minor leaguer Josh Walker on the mound and a two-run home run by former Triple-A minor leaguer Brian Cavazos-Galvez, the Alumni edged the Lobos 3-2 in a seven-inning contest at Santa Ana Star Field.
More importantly than the final score, it was a gathering of Lobos that creates a strong family atmosphere around the program – one that has reached the NCAA postseason in five of the last seven seasons after making it only once prior to 2010 (in 1962).
“This is a great day for Lobo baseball seeing the present and the past get together,” said UNM coach Ray Birmingham, who is entering his 10th season with the Lobos. “We are New Mexico baseball. We have gentlemen who played in the 1970s all the way to guys who played for us last year. It’s a great thing to see.”
The Albuquerque native Cavazos-Galvez not only provided the pop in the game (reminder: he hit 74 minor league home runs as well as another 26 for the Lobos during his two years with the program), he also shut the door on a Lobos seventh-inning rally – thanks to a little help from center fielder Chase Harris.
Jack Zoellner hit a one-out double for the Lobos in the seventh inning off of Rob Hoover, who played for UNM from 1976-79 and is the program’s all-time leader in wins, and Cavazos-Galvez entered in relief. The right-hander picked up a strikeout before Andre Vigil singled to center to bring in Zoellner. However, Vigil took a wide turn at first and Harris came up throwing behind Vigil and tossed him out trying to retreat to the bag for the final out of the contest.
Cavazos-Galvez said this event is more about the chance to catch up with past teammates and players of the program while getting to know the new Lobo faces than the game itself.
“For us alumni, this just brings us back together,” Cavazos-Galvez said. “I’ve played with all of these guys. I’ve either supported them after I was gone or actually played with them. It’s great to reminisce and see how everyone is doing. …
“Birmingham and the Lobos are doing great things. It’s nice to say you are part of something. It’s great to see these young guys come out and go to the NCAA Regionals. It’s awesome.”
House set the tone in the first three innings for the Alumni, striking out three while surrendering just two infield hits.
Lobo starter Carson Schneider was matching House until the third when a trio of errors led to an Alumni run to make it 1-0.
The score remained that way until the fifth when Lobo James Harrington in his third inning of relief surrendered a single to Jared Holley – a 2016 UNM grad who is the Lobo all-time hit-by-pitch leader – before Cavazos-Galvez blasted a shot over the left field wall to make it 3-0.
It was the only blemish for Harrington as he struck out five in three innings.
The Lobos scratched a run across in the sixth after a lead-off walk to Daniel Herrera and a single by Beau Capanna led to Herrera scoring on a groundout by Daniel Collier to cut the Alumni lead to 3-1.
Along with House on the mound, Walker went two perfect innings for the Alumni while Joe Romero pitched the sixth and Hoover and Cavazos-Galvez combined to close it out.
Up next for the Lobos is their season opener at home Feb. 17 against Binghamton with first pitch scheduled for 6 p.m.
To see all 26 regular-season home Lobo baseball games for the single price of $50 (less than $2 per game), fans can purchase the Lobo Pride Pass – which also provides admission to every UNM home softball and track & field event.
For more information, fans can contact Lobo Athletic Ticket representatives Joe Gehling at (505) 925-1620 or visit the Lobo Ticket Office located in WisePies Arena.
Follow the UNM baseball team on Twitter (@UNMLoboBaseball), Instagram (@unmlobobaseball) and Facebook (/UNMLobosBaseball) for updates and information on your Lobos!