WATCH | LISTEN | SERIES NOTES
New Mexico (26-19-1, 16-3-1) vs. Air Force (23-20, 10-13)
Friday, May 5 • 6:30 p.m. (MT)
RHP Tyler Stevens (6-4, 3.61) vs. LHP Jacob DeVries (4-3, 7.31)
Saturday, May 6 • 2 p.m. (MT)
RHP Johnathon Tripp (4-1, 4.57) vs. LHP Ethan Nichols (5-1, 6.13)
Sunday, May 7 • 1 p.m. (MT)
LHP Luis Gonzalez (3-2, 5.93) vs. RHP Matt Hargreaves (3-3, 6.17)
Santa Ana Star Field – Albuquerque, N.M.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — The first-place University of New Mexico baseball team hosts arguably the hottest team in the Mountain West in Air Force for a three-game series starting 6:30 p.m. Friday at Santa Ana Star Field.
The Lobos put up some hefty numbers and swept a three-game series at the Air Force Academy earlier this season, winning games 19-5, 24-16 and 16-7. UNM hit .496 in the series with four home runs and 20 doubles. Leading the way at the plate for UNM was Luis Gonzalez, who went 11-for-14 (.786) with four doubles, six RBI and 10 runs while Jack Zoellner and Carl Stajduhar had two home runs and seven RBI apiece with each hitting above .500 in the series.
The Falcons are on a roll heading into the Duke City this weekend as they have won their last seven games and nine of their last 11. Air Force won a midweek contest in Colorado Springs against University of Colorado-Colorado Springs before taking two from Nevada at home 10-7 and 4-3 (one game was cancelled due to inclement weather). The weekend prior the Falcons swept San Jose State in a three-game set as they have won five Mountain West games in a row to move into fourth place.
LAST TIME OUT FOR UNM … The Lobos couldn’t complete the season sweep of in-state foe New Mexico State as a nine-run fourth inning by the Aggies led to a 12-5 loss Tuesday evening at Santa Ana Star Field.
UNM, which defeated NMSU 8-2 on March 7 in El Paso and 5-3 March 28 in Las Cruces, led 3-1 heading into the fourth inning thanks to a three-run second inning that was highlighted by a Beau Capanna two-run triple.
But the Aggies scored nine runs on six hits in the fourth with Tristen Carranza hitting two home runs – including a grand slam – in the inning to give NMSU a 10-3 advantage.
James Harrington picked up the loss, going 3.1 innings and giving up seven runs (five earned) on seven hits with two walks and no strikeouts. Nathaniel Garley tossed 1.2 innings of scoreless relief while Chad Smith went the final 3.1 innings and gave up two runs on four hits with two strikeouts and a walk.
Eight different Lobos had one hit apiece while Luis Gonzalez, Andre Gregory and Justin Watari also drove in runs to go along with Capanna’s two-run triple.
The Lobos put themselves in a strong spot to claim their first regular-season title since 2014 and to host the Mountain West Tournament when they took two of three on the road from San Diego State this past weekend.
UNM dropped the opener Friday 4-0 as the Lobos struggled to string together hits against Aztec lefty Brett Seeburger (UNM was blanked for the fifth time this season). Tyler Stevens took the loss, going seven innings and giving up three runs on eight hits with seven strikeouts and one walk.
But the UNM bats turned it around in game two Saturday as it cranked out 11 runs on 13 hits in the first three innings to cruise to the 11-6 win. Jared Mang and Danny Collier each had three hits and two RBI while Carl Stajduhar went 3-for-4 with an RBI and three runs. Johnathon Tripp got the win, going six innings while giving up two earned runs on five hits with seven strikeouts. Drew Gillespie picked up his first career save by tossing the final three innings.
The Lobos took the rubber match Sunday as it rallied from 4-2, 7-4 and 10-7 deficits to defeat the Aztecs 12-10. The big shot came from Jared Mang as the sophomore blasted a three-run, go-ahead homer in the seventh inning to give the Lobos a 12-10 lead. Mang finished 3-for-5 with two home runs and six RBI. Carson Schneider picked up the win, going two innings and giving up three runs on three hits with two walks. Christian Tripp picked up his sixth save, going the final three innings and giving up two hits and no runs with a pair of strikeouts.
SCOUTING AIR FORCE … The Falcons enter this weekend as the top hitting team in the nation (.346) and second in runs per game (8.8).
Air Force has three hitters in the top 26 in the nation in Bradley Haslam (.404 – 10th), Tyler Zabojnik (.394 – 23rd) and Adam Groesbeck (.391).
One potent bat the Falcons didn’t have when they were swept by the Lobos has returned in Tyler Jones. In 33 games, Jones has hit 10 home runs, 13 doubles and had has driven in 43.
On the mound, the Falcons have a 7.01 team ERA with no one in their starting rotation this weekend featuring an ERA below 6.13. Air Force’s top arm has ome out of the bullpen in Ryan Holloway as he’s 2-1 with four saves, a 2.35 ERA and 42 strikeouts in 38.1 innigns of work (19 appearances).
UNM BASEBALL NOTES
- MANG NAMED MOUNTAIN WEST PLAYER OF THE WEEK … The heroics of Jared Mang on Sunday in beating San Diego State capped an outstanding week for the sophomore and he was recognized for his production Monday by being named the Mountain West Player of the Week.
Mang went 11-for-25 on the week (.440) with three home runs, a double, 11 RBI and eight runs in helping the Mountain West-leading Lobos split a pair of games with No. 4 Texas Tech and take two of three at second-place San Diego State to increase its lead in the conference.
The Lobo outfielder showed his talents Sunday, hitting a game-tying two-run home run in the fifth inning before blasting a three-run, go-ahead homer in the seventh inning to give the Lobos the lead for good at 12-10. Mang finished the game 3-for-5 with two home runs, three runs and six RBI.
It was one of four multi-hit games for Mang during the week, including three three-hit games. He went 2-for-5 with two RBI and a run in a 16-5 win over Texas Tech on Tuesday in Albuquerque, 3-for-5 with a home run and three runs scored in a loss to the Red Raiders Wednesday and 3-for-6 with a double, two RBI and a run in an 11-6 win over SDSU on Saturday to go along with his Sunday performance.
It’s the second time the Los Alamos, N.M., native has won the award this season (April 3) and in his career.
- MANG, STAJDUHAR NAMED ACADEMIC ALL-DISTRICT … The University of New Mexico baseball team’s Jared Mang and Carl Stajduhar were selected for the CoSIDA Academic All-District 7 Team on Thursday.
Mang owns a 3.91 GPA in Pre-Exercise Science while hitting .386 (33rd in the NCAA) with eight home runs, 13 doubles, 52 RBI (18th) and 54 runs (seventh). He’s also started all three outfield positions this season, has two assists and hasn’t recorded an error. Mang has been selected twice as Mountain West Player of the Week this season, including winning last week’s honor.
Stajduhar, a preseason All-American as well as a 2016 All-American, owns a 3.69 GPA in Liberal Arts while hitting .325 with 11 home runs (59th in the NCAA), 13 doubles, 52 RBI (18th) and 51 runs (13th). He’s also been hit by a pitch a team-high 12 times (44th), has earned a Mountain West Player of the Week honor and has started 157 consecutive games for the Lobos.
Mang and Stajduhar are two of the three Mountain West representatives on the Academic All-District 7 Team (the other is Air Force outfielder Russell Williams). Mang and Stajduhar are now eligible to be selected as Academic All-Americans later in the month.
- 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. 3 with 8.6 per game.
UNM is also in the top 20 in the nation in average (.314 – 12th), on-base percentage (.416 – 5th) and slugging percentage (.483 – 15TH) while the Lobos are third in the country in doubles (112) and doubles per game (2.43).
- STAJDUHAR – A BASEBALL MAGNET … Third baseman Carl Stajduhar has been taking a beating at the plate as of late as he’s been plunked in seven of the last nine games and has been hit 10 times in the last 14 games.
Overall the junior has been hit by a pitch 12 times this season – 44th in the nation. In his career, Stajduhar has been hit 29 times – third in UNM history.
HIT BY PITCH (Career)
39 Jared Holley, 2013-16
38 Joe Salas, 2001-04
29 Carl Stajduhar, 2015-present
28 Chris Alexander, 2000-03
28 Aaron Santini, 1991-93
- 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
171 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 ninth in the nation in doubles plays turned (47) and 20th in the country in double plays per game (1.02).
- 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 fifth in the country in walks drawn with 252.
Leading the way in walks drawn for UNM is Luis Gonzalez (42, 4th in the NCAA) and Jack Zoellner (35, 30th).
- 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 166 of the Lobos’ 167 games during his career, including the last 154 – 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
154 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 has moved himself into fourth place on UNM’s all-time walks list with 115. 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 75 games for the cherry and silver, tied for second all-time. He’s three appearances away from setting a new Lobo record.
APPEARANCES (Career)
77 Taylor Duree, 2013-16
75 Joe Coleman, 1985-88
75 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
- 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
195 Tyler Stevens, 2015-17
188 Chris Cooper, 2000-01
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 20-6 in his career, reaching the all-time top 10. His .769 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 19-12 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 Carson Schneider, 2014-present
20 Rod Adair, 1971-74
19 Dean Duane, 1982-85
19 Jim Sharpe, 1979-82
19 Ralph Sallee, 1966-68
19 Tyler Stevens, 2015-presentWINNING PCT. (Career, Min. 15 Dec.)
.773 (17-5) Luis Gonzalez, 1995-96
.769 (20-6) 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
- A RECORD OF ENDURANCE … First baseman Jack Zoellner is on the cusp of recording more putouts than any other Lobo in program history.
PUTOUTS (Career)
1,886 Daniel Stovall, 2004-07
1,823 Jack Zoellner, 2014-present
1,388 Chris Alexander, 2000-03
1,136 Mitch Garver, 2010-13
1,008 Mark Gulseth, 1991-93
- 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 149 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 25-0-1