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New Mexico (29-25-1) vs. Nevada (19-34)
Thursday, May 25 • 7 p.m. (MT)
RHP Tyler Stevens vs. RHP Trevor Charpie
Santa Ana Star Field – Albuquerque, N.M.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — The Mountain West regular-season champion University of New Mexico baseball team has its attention set on defending its Mountain West Tournament title and earning an automatic berth into the NCAA Regionals when the top-seeded Lobos take on No. 4 Nevada 7 p.m. Thursday at Santa Ana Star Field.
The Lobos, who defeated Nevada twice in sweeping its way to the 2016 Mountain West Tournament title, have won five regular-season Mountain West titles in the last seven years (2011-14, 2017) and three of the last six conference tournament crowns (2011, 2012, 2016).
The early game Thursday will be No. 2 San Diego State taking on No. 3 Fresno State at 3 p.m. Both contests are rematches of series played last weekend (Nevada took two of three from UNM while Fresno State took two of three from SDSU).
Tickets are available at unmtickets.com or call 505-925-LOBO.
Live streaming of the 2017 MW Baseball Championship is available through the Mountain West Network (MWN) on TheMW.com and CampusInsiders.com. All live broadcasts are free of charge.
In addition, fans can watch live video on their mobile devices for free with the MW mobile app. Links to live stats, game highlights, recaps and box scores will also be available on the Mountain West Championship Central page on TheMW.com. The Mountain West application can be downloaded from the Apple App Store for iPhones and iPads, and from Google Play for Android phones and tablets.
LAST TIME OUT FOR UNM … Though it took until the final day of the regular season, the Lobos wrapped up their fifth regular-season Mountain West championship in the last seven seasons this past weekend.
UNM entered the final weekend of the regular season with a magic number of three to win the Mountain West and got help the first night with San Diego State falling to Fresno State. However, UNM fell to Nevada – who entered this weekend needing to win two of three to take the fourth and final spot in into the MW tournament – 5-2 on Thursday. The Lobos took an early 2-0 before Nevada scored three in the third, one in the fifth and one in the seventh for the victory.
Tyler Stevens got the loss, going six innings and giving up four runs on 13 hits with eight strikeouts and one walk. Carl Stajduhar and Danny Collier had two hits and an RBI apiece – combining for four of the Lobos’ five hits.
The Lobos’ magic remained at two following Friday’s action as the Lobos fell to Nevada 17-9 and San Diego State defeated Fresno State. In UNM’s loss, Stajduhar went 3-for-4 with a home run and three RBI, Luis Gonzalez wetn 2-for-5 with a home run and two RBI while Collier, Brandon Langan and Robby Campillo had two hits apiece. Carson Schneider got the loss, going 3.1 innings and giving up nine runs (eight earned) on eight hits with five strikeouts and two walks.
UNM needed some help Saturday as it had to have a San Diego State loss to Fresno State plus a win over Nevada to claim the Mountain West title.
The Lobos did their part as a go-ahead, three-run homer by senior Matt Villalobos (his first career home run – on senior day, nontheless) in the seventh inning ignited a seven-run frame to catapult UNM to a 13-6 victory. Villalobos finished 2-for-2 with a homer, double and three RBI, Jared Mang finished 4-for-5 with a home run and three RBI and Justin Watari went 2-for-2 with two runs. Johnathon Tripp picked up the win in relief, going four innings and giving up a run on five hits with four strikeouts and no walks.
The Lobos were able to celebrate their championship 15 minutes later in the clubhouse when Fresno State defeated San Diego State.
UNM BASEBALL NOTES
- GONZO BREAKS 37-YEAR-OLD UNM RECORD … Luis Gonzalez is one of the most dangerous hitters in the nation – and has been respected as so all season. The junior broke a UNM record that had stood since 1980 on Saturday as his three walks on Saturday gives him 58 on the season.
Gonzalez passed Mike Foote’s mark of 56 set in 1980 and is the most in the last 15 years since Matt Young walked 54 times in 2003.
Gonzalez is second in the nation in walks with 58 heading into the Mountain West Tournament, one behind D.J. Artis of Liberty.
WALKS (Season)
58 Luis Gonzalez, 2017
56 Mike Foote, 1980
54 Matt Young, 2003
53 Steve McKee, 1987
52 Lon Yamaguchhi, 1998
- RBI MACHINES IN MW PLAY … UNM has racked up the runs this season and it’s been a balanced effort as the Lobos have three of the top five and four of the top seven run producers during conference play. Jared Mang is tied for first in the conference with 42 RBI, Carl Stajduhar and Jack Zoellner are tied for third with 37 RBI and Luis Gonzalez is tied for seventh with 32 RBI.
- CAN’T SCORE IF YOU DON’T GET ON BASE … The Lobos’ on-base percentage is tops in the conference and fourth in the nation at .421. That number is even higher in Mountain West play at a conference-best .463.
The MW number is so high thanks to having the only three players to own a .500 or better on-base percentage in conference play – Luis Gonzalez (.566), Carl Stajduhar (.520) and Jack Zoellner (.508).
- ZOELLNER MOVES INTO TOP-10 ALL-TIME GAMES PLAYED LIST … Over the previous four seasons Jack Zoellner has been a mainstay in the UNM lineup (until his injury on Friday). He has moved into a tie for No. 9 on the all-time UNM list with 211 games played.
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
211 Jack Zoellner, 2014-present
- 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. 4 with 8.7 per game.
UNM is also in the top 20 in the nation in average (.319 – 9th), on-base percentage (.421 – 4th) and slugging percentage (.498 – 10th) while the Lobos are fourth in the country in doubles (134) and third in doubles per game (2.44).
- STAJDUHAR – A BASEBALL MAGNET … Third baseman Carl Stajduhar 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 continues his recent hot streak and has increased his home run total to 16 on the season. It also gives the junior 43 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 with 182 – good for seventh.
HOME RUNS (Career)
53 Aaron Sisk, 1998-00
50 Chris Alexander, 2000-03
43 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
182 Carl Stajduhar, 2015-present
181 Antonio Fernandez, 1992-94
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 15th in the nation in doubles plays turned (55) and 21st 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 311.
The 311 is the third highest total in school history, only trailing 321 by the 1987 team and 313 by last season’s team.
- 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 175 of the Lobos’ 176 games during his career, including the last 163 – 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
163 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’ … Luis Gonzalez and Jack Zoellner has moved themselves into the top five in UNM history in career walks with Gonzalez in fourth place with 124 and Zoellner in fifth with 117.
WALKS (Career)
152 Lon Yamaguchi, 1996-99
133 Matt Young, 2002-04
126 Gerardo Yepiz, 1990-92
124 Luis Gonzalez, 2015-present
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
- 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. The Albuquerque native has appeared in 79 games for the cherry and silver, passing former Sandia High School teammate Taylor Duree.
APPEARANCES (Career)
79 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 214 in his career has him in the top-10 mark in Lobo history.
Stevens leads the conference with 66 strikeouts this season in MW play and is tied for first with 94 overall in 2017.
STRIKEOUTS (Career)
356 Jim Kremmel, 1968-71
334 Bob McAulay, 1966-68
299 Ralph Sallee, 1966-68
251 James Vermilyea, 2001-04
222 Danny Ray Herrera, 2004-06
214 Kurt Hildebrandt, 1991-93, ’95
214 Tyler Stevens, 2015-17
202 Rob Hoover, 1976-79
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 20-7 in his career, reaching the all-time top 10. His .741 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 19-14 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
.750 (12-4) Jim Coleman, 1991-94
.743 (26-9) Josh Walker, 2012-14
.741 (20-7) Carson Schneider, 2014-present
.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, 1972-73
.647 (22-12) Danny Ray Herrera, 2004-06
- A RECORD OF ENDURANCE … First baseman Jack Zoellner has moved into second place on the UNM all-time putouts list.
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 152 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 28-0-1
- GIVE THEM NOTHING! BUT TAKE FROM THEM EVERYTHING! … Ray Birmingham is the fourth Lobo coach to hit the 300-win in his UNM career. Here is the UNM coaching wins list:
Coach Seasons Wins
Rich Alday 18 515
Vince Cappelli 13 384
Ray Birmingham 10 340
Bob Leigh 11 309
- MOUNTAIN WEST NEARLY PLAYS OUT AS PREDICTED … The Lobos entered the season as preseason favorites in the Mountain West, followed by Fresno State, Nevada and San Diego State in the top four. The conference nearly played out that way with the Lobos on top, followed by San Diego State, Fresno State and Nevada – the same four teams predicted to finish in the top of the conference.
Mountain West Preseason Coaches’ Poll
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 6Mountain West Final Standings
1. New Mexico 19-9-1
2. San Diego State 20-10
3. Fresno State 18-12
4. Nevada 13-16
5. Air Force 12-17
6. San Jose State 10-18-1
7. UNLV 10-20