WATCH | SERIES NOTES
New Mexico (28-20-1, 18-4-1) vs. Fresno State (26-22, 13-11)
Friday, May 12 • 7:05 p.m. (MT)
RHP Tyler Stevens (6-4, 4.42) vs. LHP Ricky Tyler Thomas (5-3, 3.93)
Saturday, May 13 • 7:05 p.m. (MT)
RHP Johnathon Tripp (5-1, 4.90) vs. RHP Edgar Gonzalez (4-3, 4.94)
Sunday, May 14 • 2:05 p.m. (MT)
LHP Luis Gonzalez (4-2, 5.81) vs. TBD
Bob Bennett Stadium – Fresno, Calif.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — The University of New Mexico baseball team looks to get closer to, or with a little help from Air Force against San Diego State, clinch the Mountain West regular-season title when the Lobos travel to take on Fresno State starting Friday at Bob Bennett Stadium.
UNM at 18-4-1 has a magic number of four with second-place San Diego State (17-7) to clinch the conference title with six games remaining – meaning a combination of four Lobo wins or Aztec losses will secure the Mountain West and UNM would host the four-team Mountain West Tournament.
The first-place Lobos took two of three from Fresno State earlier this season in Albuquerque, but the Bulldogs ended UNM’s 10-0 start to Mountain West play – the best start in the conference’s history. UNM won the first game 24-4 before losing game two 2-1 in 11 innings and taking the rubber match 6-2 (beating preseason All-American Ricky Tyler Thomas). It improved the Lobos’ record to 16-2 at home against Fresno State, but UNM is 8-10 on the road against the Bulldogs.
The Bulldogs sit in third place in the Mountain West at 13-11 and are looking to secure a spot in the four-team Mountain West Tournament this year (hosted by the regular season champion). Fresno State took two of three from UNLV last weekend, winning the first two games 12-5 and 11-5 and dropping game three 14-5. The Bulldogs took on Sacramento State on Tuesday, coming away with a 9-2 victory.
LAST TIME OUT FOR UNM … The Lobos moved a step closer to clinching the Mountain West regular season title after taking two of three at home last weekend from an Air Force squad that entered the series having won seven straight.
UNM dropped the first game Friday when it lost a 12-5 lead and fell to the Falcons 18-14. Air Force scored 13 runs over the final four innings to steal the victory. Carl Stajduhar and Jack Zoellner each homered for the Lobos while Jared Mang, Danny Collier, Hayden Schilling and Justin Watari had three hits apiece.
UNM bounced back Saturday as it blasted six home runs and got a 5-for-5 performance from Zoellner to outslug the Falcons 17-10. Zoellner homered twice while driving in four and scoring four while Stajduhar blasted three home runs (in consecutive at-bats) and drove in four to help the Lobos to the victory. Johnathon Tripp picked up the win while freshman Nathaniel Garley collected his first career save.
Luis Gonzalez did it at the plate and on the mound in the rubber match of the series for UNM in a 11-6 victory Sunday. The junior went 3-for-4 with a home run, double, three RBI and three runs while going seven innings on the bump and giving up four earned runs on 11 hits with six strikeouts and one walk to pick up the win. Collier went 3-for-5 with three doubles, two RBI and two runs, Stajduhar went 2-for-4 with a run while freshman Robby Campillo hit his first career homer.
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.
SCOUTING FRESNO STATE … The Bulldogs enter this weekend’s series ranked No. 22 in the nation in hitting at .306 – led by Aaron Arruda as he’s hitting .384 with 13 home runs, 10 doubles and 55 RBI.
Fresno State’s second-best run producer this season has been Scott Silva as he has 42 RBI to go along with a .312 average, seven homers and 17 doubles. Overall the Bulldogs have six players hitting above .310.
The Fresno State staff continues to be led by preseason All-American Ricky Tyler Thomas. The left-hander is 5-3 with a 3.93 ERA with 79 strikeouts in 71 innings. Rickey Ramirez is the only other Bulldog with more than seven starts on the season as he’s 2-6 with a 5.88 ERA with 59 strikeouts in 72 innings of work (tops on the team). Outside of Thomas, no Bulldog has an ERA below 4.94.
UNM BASEBALL NOTES
- STAJDUHAR NAMED MOUNTAIN WEST PLAYER OF THE WEEK … The University of New Mexico baseball team earned its seventh Mountain West Player of the Week honor Monday as Carl Stajduhar was selected for the award by the conference.
The junior from Fort Collins, Colo., hit .438 during the week (7-for-16) with four home runs, seven RBI and six runs in helping the Lobos remain in first place in the Mountain West, including taking two of three from Air Force.
Stajduhar set a career high with three home runs against the Falcons on Saturday while going 3-for-4 with four RBI in the Lobos’ 17-10 victory at Santa Ana Star Field.The Lobo third baseman also homered in the series opener against the Falcons on Friday while driving in three runs and scoring two. Stajduhar had a hit in all four of UNM’s games this past week.
This is Stajduhar’s second Mountain West Player of the Week award this year and the sixth of his career. The six awards tie him with D.J. Peterson for the most by a UNM player in program history (the Mountain West started in 2000).
Stajduhar is hitting .333 with 15 home runs (14th in the NCAA), 59 RBI (eighth) and 57 runs (fourth) on the season. The four home runs this week also gives him 42 in his career, moving him into a tie for third place on the all-time UNM list with Daniel Stovall. Aaron Sisk (1998-2000) holds the UNM career record with 53 home runs.
This is the Lobos’ eighth Mountain West weekly award overall – seven MW Player of the Week awards and one MW Pitcher of the Week award. The eight weekly awards are the most since UNM won nine in 2013 and is the third most since the conference started in 2000 (UNM won a record 12 MW weekly awards in 2012).
- ZOELLNER MOVES INTO TOP-10 ALL-TIME GAMES PLAYED LIST … Over the last four seasons penciling in Jack Zoellner at first base has been a near certainty as the senior has now played in 210 games as a Lobo -10th on the UNM all-time games played list.
GAMES PLAYED (Career)
244 Larry Harrison, 1980-83
226 Daniel Stovall, 2004-07
225 Tom Francis, 1979-82
224 Alex Allbritton, 2010-13
223 Lon Yamaguchi, 1996-99
221 Ian Hollick, 2005-08
219 Travis Young, 1994-97
214 Joe Salas, 2001-04
211 Mitch Garver, 2010-13
210 Jack Zoellner, 2014-presentUNM 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 9.0 per game.
UNM is also in the top 20 in the nation in average (.320 – 9th), on-base percentage (.423 – 3rd) and slugging percentage (.501 – 6th) while the Lobos are second in the country in doubles (122) and third in doubles per game (2.49).
- 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 eight of the last 12 games and has been hit 11 times in the last 17 games.
Overall the junior has been hit by a pitch 13 times this season – 41st in the nation. In his career, Stajduhar has been hit 30 times – third in UNM history.
HIT BY PITCH (Career)
39 Jared Holley, 2013-16
38 Joe Salas, 2001-04
30 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 nine home runs in his last 14 games to give him 15 on the season. It also gives the junior 42 in his career, good for a tie for third 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 Carl Stajduhar, 2015-present
42 Daniel Stovall, 2004-07
41 DJ Peterson, 2011-13
38 Joe Salas, 2001-04
38 Lon Yamaguchi, 1996-99
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
178 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 10th in the nation in doubles plays turned (50) and 17th 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 fourth in the country in walks drawn with 279.
Leading the way in walks drawn for UNM is Luis Gonzalez (50, 1st in the NCAA) and Jack Zoellner (37, 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 169 of the Lobos’ 170 games during his career, including the last 157 – 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
157 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 117. Here is the current all-time list.
WALKS (Career)
152 Lon Yamaguchi, 1996-99
133 Matt Young, 2002-04
126 Gerardo Yepiz, 1990-92
117 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 77 games for the cherry and silver, tied for first all-time. He’s three appearances away from setting a new Lobo record.
APPEARANCES (Career)
77 Carson Schneider, 2014-present
77 Taylor Duree, 2013-16
75 Joe Coleman, 1985-88
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 199 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
199 Tyler Stevens, 2015-17
196 Jim Kalk, 1964-66
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
1,854 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 151 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 27-0-1