OFFICIAL MOUNTAIN WEST RELEASE
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — The University of New Mexico baseball team has been named the favorite to win the Mountain West Conference and a trio of players were named preseason all-conference when the Mountain West released their baseball coaches poll and season preview Wednesday.
The defending Mountain West Tournament champion Lobos, who went 39-23 and reached the NCAA postseason for the fifth time in seven seasons in 2016, picked up four first-place votes and edged Fresno State (which had three first-place votes) by a point for the top spot in the preseason poll (each program voted, but could not vote for themselves).
Following UNM and Fresno State was Nevada and San Diego State in third and fourth, respectively, Air Force and UNLV tied for fifth and San Jose State seventh.
UNM third baseman Carl Stajduhar, outfielder Luis Gonzalez and pitcher Tyler Stevens were picked for the Mountain West Preseason All-Conference Team. Nine position players (regardless of position) and four pitchers were voted on by the schools in the conference.
Stajduhar, a junior, was the 2016 Mountain West Player of the Year last season after hitting .331 with a team-high 18 home runs and 66 RBI to go along with 17 doubles and 51 runs. He’s earned a pair of preseason All-American honors and is currently on a consecutive games played streak of 108.
Gonzalez, a junior who also was named to two preseason All-American teams, led the Lobos in average (.381), runs (63), hits (96), doubles (21), triples (5) and stolen bases (18) to go along with six home runs and 48 RBI last season. While he earned this honor as an outfielder, Gonzalez will again this season see time on the mound as the left-hander went 3-1 with a 5.51 ERA in 32.2 innings (six starts) in 2016.
Stevens, a junior, went 8-4 with a 4.11 ERA and 78 strikeouts last season and led the Lobos in starts (16) and innings pitched (100.2).
The Lobos open their season 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.
2017 MOUNTAIN WEST PRESEASON COACHES POLL
Rank Team (1st-place votes) Points
1. New Mexico (4) 34
2. Fresno State (3) 33
3. Nevada 23
4. San Diego State 21
5. Air Force 15
UNLV 15
7. San José State 6
2017 MOUNTAIN WEST PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM
Adam Groesbeck, Sr., OF, Air Force
Bradley Haslam, Sr., 3B/DH, Air Force
Tyler Jones, Sr., OF, Air Force
Nic Ready, So., DH/3B, Air Force
Aaron Arruda, Jr., 1B, Fresno State
Ricky Tyler Thomas, Jr., LHP, Fresno State
Justin Bridgman, Sr., SS, Nevada
Trevor Charpie, Sr., RHP, Nevada
Luis Gonzalez, Jr., OF, New Mexico
Carl Stajduhar, Jr., 3B, New Mexico
Tyler Stevens, Jr., RHP, New Mexico
Dominic Purpura, Sr., LHP, San Diego State
Kyle Isbel, So., OF, UNLV
Follow the UNM baseball team on Twitter (@UNMLoboBaseball), Instagram (@unmlobobaseball) and Facebook (/UNMLobosBaseball) for updates and information on your Lobos!