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New Mexico (24-17-1, 14-2-1) vs. San Diego State (29-13, 13-5)
Friday, April 28 • 7 p.m. (MT)
RHP Tyler Stevens vs. LHP Brett Seeburger
Saturday, April 29 • 3 p.m. (MT)
RHP Johnathon Tripp vs. LHP Dominic Purpura
Sunday, April 30 • 2 p.m. (MT)
LHP Luis Gonzalez vs. RHP Cody Thompson
Tony Gwynn Stadium – San Diego, Calif.
SAN DIEGO, Calif. — The University of New Mexico baseball team opens up a three-game series 7 p.m. (MT) Friday that arguably could determine the Mountain West Conference title and who hosts the Mountain West Tournament when the Lobos take on San Diego State at Tony Gwynn Stadium.
This is the lone regular-season series between the Lobos and San Diego State this season, and is a crucial one with UNM sitting in first place (14-2-1) and San Diego State in second (13-5). Last season the Lobos took two of three from the Aztecs in both San Diego and Albuquerque. Overall, UNM is 75-110 against San Diego State, including 31-64 in San Diego (the Lobos are 40-36 all-time at home against the Aztecs).
The Aztecs are coming off a 6-4 midweek loss to UC Riverside on Tuesday at home – SDSU’s first home contest since April 11. The Aztecs were out of conference last weekend as they took two of three from UC Santa Barbara in a trio of close contests (won 5-3 and 5-4, lost 6-5). The Aztecs were last in Mountain West action April 13-15 where they took two of three at UNLV (lost the opener 6-3, won the next two 20-6 and 16-3).
LAST TIME OUT FOR UNM … The Lobos picked up a key win against No. 6 Texas Tech 16-5 on Tuesday before falling to the Red Raiders 27-15 on Wednesday with both games played at Santa Ana Star Field.
In the Lobos’ win Tuesday, they got a strong start from Carson Schneider as the senior went six innings and gave up four runs (three earned) on seven hits with a career-high seven strikeouts and no walks to pick up his 19th career win, tying him for 10th on the UNM all-time list.
At the plate UNM had six players with multiple hits with Luis Gonzalez leading the way, going 3-for-5 with three RBI, two runs and a double. Danny Collier also drove in three runs while going 2-for-3 while Jared Mang, Jack Zoellner and Andre Gregory each had two hits and two RBI as well.
On Wednesday the Lobos scored nine unanswered to rally from an 11-5 deficit to take a 14-11 lead in the fifth inning before the Red Raiders scored 16 straight to come away with the 27-15 win.
Carl Stajduhar drove in a career-high seven runs for the Lobos while going 3-for-3 with a home run. Hayden Shilling, Daniel Herrera and Jared Mang had three hits apiece while Gonzalez and Collier each had two.
The Lobos are coming off their fourth Mountain West series sweep of the season after taking all three games from UNLV this past weekend at Santa Ana Star Field.
In Friday’s series opener, UNM got a strong start from Tyler Stevens, a four-hit game from Jared Mang, three-hit games from Luis Gonzalez and Beau Capanna and a home run from Carl Stajduhar to pull away for a 13-4 victory.
Stevens went seven innings and gave up three runs (two earned) on 10 hits with five strikeouts and a walk to pick up his sixth win of the season.
The Lobos trailed 2-1 before a three-run third inning gave UNM the lead for good as they pulled away for the nine-run victory.
On Saturday, the Lobos got a three-run homer from Jack Zoellner in the first inning and a three-run homer from Mang in the second inning to help push UNM to a 13-4 victory.
Zoellner had a big day at the plate, going 3-for-5 with a home run, two doubles and five RBI. Johnathon Tripp picked up the win, going seven innings and giving up four runs on eight hits with three strikeouts and one walk.
Sunday’s finale was a bit tighter as UNLV held a 9-7 advantage heading to the bottom of the sixth before a two-out, three-run homer by Stajduhar (his third consecutive game with a home run and fourth in five games) gave the Lobos the lead for good on their way to an 11-9 victory – led by Mang’s 5-for-5 performance.
James Harrington got the win in relief, giving up two runs (one earned) on three hits with one strikeout and two walks. Christian Tripp picked up his fifth save of the season, going one inning and giving up one hit with two strikeouts and one walk.
SCOUTING SAN DIEGO STATE … The Aztecs rank nationally in the top 25 in batting average (.315, 12th), ERA (3.39, 25th) and fielding percentage (.980, 13th).
At the plate the Aztecs have been led by Tyler Adkison as he leads the team in average (.370), home runs (11) and RBI (38). Overall SDSU has eight players with 100 or more at-bats this season hitting above .300.
On the mound this weekend SDSU will be starting Brett Seeburger (7-1, 3.38) Friday, Dominic Purpura (6-1, 3.39) on Saturday and Cody Thompson (1-0, 4.91) on Sunday. The Aztecs’ bullpen has been strong, led by closer CJ Saylor (1-0, 11 saves, 1.50 ERA) who has 33 strikeouts in 24 innings of work.
UNM BASEBALL NOTES
- UNM RACKING UP THE RUNS … The Lobos continue to put up impressive numbers as UNM sits in the top 10 in the nation in runs per game at No. 2 with 8.8 per game. UNM is also in the top 20 in the nation in average (.317 – 17th), on-base percentage (.421 – 5th) and slugging percentage (.492 – 10th) while the Lobos are second in the country in doubles (108) and doubles per game (2.57).
- GONZALEZ, GREGORY NAMED TO MIDSEASON WATCH LISTS FOR NATIONAL AWARDS … UNM’s Luis Gonzalez was named to the John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year midseason watch list while Andre Gregory was selected to the Brooks Wallace Award midseason watch list (nation’s top shortstop). Both awards will be handed out at the conclusion of the season.
- STAJDUHAR YARD WORK – INCREASED PRODUCTION … Carl Stajduhar would be the first to admit he’d hit a minor slump for a bit – but he’s busted out of it in a big way. The Lobo third baseman has smacked five home runs in the last seven games to give him 11 on the season. It also gives the junior 38 in his career, good for seventh on the UNM all-time list.
Stajduhar has also reached the UNM RBI all-time top 10 list.
HOME RUNS (Career)
53 Aaron Sisk, 1998-00
50 Chris Alexander, 2000-03
42 Daniel Stovall, 2004-07
41 DJ Peterson, 2011-13
38 Joe Salas, 2001-04
38 Lon Yamaguchi, 1996-99
38 Carl Stajduhar, 2015-present
36 Chris Carlson, 2005-06
34 Jeff Grady, 2002-05
29 Mark Gulseth, 1992-93RBI (Career)
226 Daniel Stovall, 2004-07
225 Chris Alexander, 2000-03
203 Lon Yamaguchi, 1996-99
198 DJ Peterson, 2011-13
198 Aaron Sisk, 1998-00
188 Joe Salas, 2001-04
181 Antonio Fernandez, 1992-94
170 Carl Stajduhar, 2015-present
167 Mitch Garver, 2010-13
166 Scott Candelaria, 1998-2000
- PITCHER’S BEST FRIEND IS NO STRANGER TO THE LOBOS … UNM has shown the ability to end opponent rallies in a hurry this season as the Lobos are 14th in the nation in doubles plays turned (42) and 23rd in the country in double plays per game (1.00).
- PATIENCE, MY FRIENDS, PATIENCE … The Lobos have shown this season they are more than willing to let an opponent get itself in trouble as UNM is fourth in the country in walks drawn with 240. Leading the way in walks drawn for UNM is Luis Gonzalez (39, fifth in the NCAA) and Jack Zoellner (35, 14th).
- DEATH, TAXES & STAJ … To say Carl Stajduhar has been a staple in the Lobo lineup for his first two years in Albuquerque might be an understatement. The junior has started 162 of the Lobos’ 163 games during his career, including the last 150 – which is second on the Lobos’ all-time list. The lone game he didn’t start in his career? A March 8, 2015, game against San Diego State in Albuquerque – a contest he later entered as a pinch hitter.
CONSECUTIVE STARTS
181 Mitch Garver, 2010-13
150 Carl Stajduhar, 2015-present
144 Daniel Stovall, 2004-07
139 Antonio Fernandez, 1992-94
135 Aaron Sisk, 1998-2000
124 Larry Harrison, 1980-83
118 Sam Haggerty, 2013-15
117 Chase Harris, 2013-14
108 Matt Foote, 2004-07
101 Lon Yamaguchi, 1996-99
- THESE CLEATS ARE MADE FOR WALKIN’ … Jack Zoellner with his two walks Tuesday at Kansas State moved himself into fourth place on UNM’s all-time walks list with 109. Here is the current all-time list.
WALKS (Career)
152 Lon Yamaguchi, 1996-99
133 Matt Young, 2002-04
126 Gerardo Yepiz, 1990-92
115 Jack Zoellner, 2014-present
109 Jim Fregosi, 1983-85
108 Ian Hollick, 2005-08
108 Jay Russell, 2004-07
108 Johnny Barros, 1990-93
106 Mike Foote, 1977-80
105 Mark Okano, 1998-2001
- NOT MANY HAVE BEEN ON THE MOUND AS A LOBO MORE GAMES THAN SCHNEIDER … Senior left-hander Carson Schneider has been a mainstay for the Lobo pitching staff during his four years to say the least. The Albuquerque native has appeared in 74 games for the cherry and silver, the third most appearances in Lobo history. He’s five appearances away from setting a new Lobo record.
APPEARANCES (Career)
77 Taylor Duree, 2013-16
75 Joe Coleman, 1985-88
74 Carson Schneider, 2014-present
72 Alex Estrella, 2012-13, ’15-16
72 Victor Sanchez, 2013-16
68 David Steinberg, 1979-82
66 Gabe Aguilar, 2009-10, ’12-13
66 Kevin Letz, 2002-05
66 Joe Salas, 2001-04
65 Rudy Jaramillo, 2009-12
- A MOUNTAIN WEST FIRST … With its win March 24, the Lobos became the first team in Mountain West history to start conference play 7-0 (the Lobos started conference play 10-0 before its first loss). The previous best start was 6-0 by UNLV in 2004. The best winning percentage in a season in Mountain West play is .870 (20-3)by TCU twice (2007 and 2011).
- TWO GAMES, 51 RUNS … The Lobos broke out of their slump in a big way Wednesday by beating Grand Canyon 22-3 and followed it up by racking up the third-most runs in Lobo history with a 29-8 win over UNLV on Friday. The two-game total of 51 runs is the second-most runs in back-to-back games in Lobo history. UNM scored 55 runs in a two-game span in 1999 (beat New Mexico State 28-18 on March 30 and Fresno State 27-26 on April 1).
- STEVENS REACHES TOP 10 IN Ks IN LOBO HISTORY … Tyler Stevens has been punching out opposing hitters left and right this season and his total of 188 in his career has him in the top-10 mark in Lobo history.
STRIKEOUTS (Career)
356 Jim Kremmel, 1968-71
334 Bob McAulay, 1966-68
299 Ralph, 1966-68
251 James Vermilyea, 2001-04
222 Danny Ray Herrera, 2004-06
214 Kurt Hildebrandt, 1991-93, ’95
202 Rob Hoover, 1976-79
196 Jim Kalk, 1964-66
188 Chris Cooper, 2000-01
188 Tyler Stevens, 2015-17
175 Rudy Jaramillo, 2009-12
- SCHNEIDER WINS! STEVENS WINS! A COMMON THEME … Senior left-hander Carson Schneider is moving up the all-time win ranks after going 9-4 last season, tied for the sixth-most wins in single-season Lobo history. The Albuquerque native and Sandia High School grad is now 19-6 in his career, reaching the all-time top 10. His .760 winning percentage is tied for second on the all-time Lobo list.
Closing in quickly for the Lobos on the career wins list is Tyler Stevens as the junior is 19-11 in his career, also a win from the No. 10 spot.
WINS (Career)
27 Rob Hoover, 1976-79
26 Josh Walker, 2012-14
24 Bob McAulay, 1966-68
23 Dean Duane, 1982-85
22 Danny Ray Herrera, 2004-06
22 Jim Kremmel, 1968-71
21 Kurt Hildebrandt, 1991-93, ’95
20 Rod Adair, 1971-74
19 Dean Duane, 1982-85
19 Jim Sharpe, 1979-82
19 Ralph Sallee, 1966-68
19 Tyler Stevens, 2015-present
19 Carson Schneider, 2014-presentWINNING PCT. (Career, Min. 15 Dec.)
.773 (17-5) Luis Gonzalez, 1995-96
.760 (19-6) Carson Schneider, 2014-present
.750 (12-4) Jim Coleman, 1991-94
.743 (26-9) Josh Walker, 2012-14
.727 (24-9) Bob McAulay, 1966-68
.722 (13-5) Don Miller, 1972-75
.708 (17-7) Chris Baum, 1992-95
.704 (19-8) Ralph Sallee, 1966-68
.688 (11-5) Gary Jacobs, 1969-70
.650 (13-7) Arnie Marzullo, 1972073
.647 (22-12) Danny Ray Herrera, 2004-06
- JACK ATTACK – A HIT STREAK NOT SOON FORGOTTEN … UNM’s Jack Zoellner might have felt a little left out when he was sitting at 0-for-5 late in the game Saturday as the Lobos racked up 24 runs and 28 hits at Air Force. The senior hit a single in his second-to-last at-bat (he walked in his final plate appearance of the day) in that contest to keep from getting the collar – but little did anyone know it would start an impressive hit streak. Zoellner went 5-for-5 Sunday at Air Force and got a hit in his first three at-bats against New Mexico State on Tuesday for nine consecutive at-bats with a base hit before being retired in his final at-bat.
- IT’S OVER AFTER EIGHT … The UNM bullpen has been outstanding at protecting leads during the last several seasons. If UNM is leading after eight innings? Forget it. The Lobos haven’t lost when leading after eight in 147 straight games, a streak that dates back to March 24, 2013.
Lobos when leading after 8 since 3/24/13
2013 25-0
2014 33-0
2015 29-0
2016 36-0
2017 23-0-1