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New Mexico (4-3-1, 0-0 MW) vs. Nevada (3-4, 0-0 MW)
Game 1: Friday, March 2, 6 p.m. – RHP Justin Slaten (1-0, 3.86) vs. TBA
Game 2: Saturday, March 3, 2 p.m. – LHP Robert Gasser (1-0, 2.70) vs. RHP Mark Nowaczewki (1-1, 1.80)
Game 3: Sunday, March 4, 1 p.m. – RHP Cody Dye (0-1, 8.38) vs. RHP Jake Jackson (1-0, 0.80)
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — It’s only three weeks into the season and New Mexico has played just eight games, but it’s safe to say that the weekend series that opens Mountain West play is shaping up to be a key series. The New Mexico Lobos (4-3-1) take on the Nevada Wolf Pack (3-4) in the season-opening conference series at Santa Ana Star Field.
The Lobos, the defending Mountain West regular season champions, will be looking for a little revenge against Nevada, who have won each of the last three series that have been played at Santa Ana Star Field. While that’s the case, last year after dropping the opening two games of the final series of the season, UNM took a 13-6 win over the Wolf Pack, which propelled UNM into the regular season title, earning the right to host the 2017 Mountain West Tournament. UNM has actually won two in row over Nevada as UNM won 7-2 in the opening game of the Mountain West Tournament.
The Lobos are nearly perfect at home, going 3-0-1 last week against Central Michigan, a series that featured games with big offense and big pitching. The big offense showed up in a 20-run explosion in the opening game, winning 20-9 on the heels of a 19-hit attack. The big pitching was tossed by Justin Slaten (seven innings) and Chad Smith (two innings) who combined on a four-hit shutout. Slaten carried a one-hitter into the seventh inning.
The Lobos will send their regular starting trio to the hill, with Slaten going on Friday, Robert Gasser on Saturday and Cody Dye on Sunday. With just one midweek game the following week (Wednesday, March 7 at Texas Tech), the Lobos will have full run of the bullpen, including James Harrington and Drew Gillespie, who have each started a game this season. Three relievers, Hayden Schilling, Brian Coffey and Christian Tripp have combined to not allow an earned run, spanning 4.1 innings, and Tripp has a pair of saves. Chad Smith has also relieved three times and has a 1.17 ERA in 7.2 innings of work.
UNM will again be without Jared Mang, who has an injured hand. Four Lobos are hitting over .300, led by Derek Marshall at .385 and Schilling, who is hitting .364 with a team-leading 12 hits.
Complete Mountain West Weekend Schedule
Air Force at Dallas Baptist (5:30 pm / 1 pm / Noon)
*San Diego State at San Jose State (7 pm / 4 pm / 1 pm)
*Fresno State at UNLV (7 pm / 3 pm / 2 pm)
*Nevada at New Mexico (6 pm / 2 pm / 1 pm)
*Conference Games