New Mexico Lobos (8-11-1, 2-4 MW) hosting Air Force Falcons (8-12, 2-4 MW)
Friday – 6:30 p.m. (RHP Justin Slaten 1-4, 4.33, vs. RHP Tyler Mortenson 0-4, 7.23)
Saturday – 2 p.m. (LHP Robert Gasser 1-1, 3.74 vs. RHP Matt Hargreaves 1-3, 5.33)
Sunday – 1 p.m. (RHP Cody Dye 1-3, 6.33 vs. LHP Ryan Holloway 1-1, 3.54)Friday Links: Audio | Video | Stats
Saturday Links: Audio | Video | Stats
Sunday Links: Audio | Video | Stats
New Mexico Game Notes | Air Force Game Notes
| Due to NMAA High School Cheerleading all weekend, fans are asked to park on the south side of Santa Ana Star Field to not incur a parking charge. Admission will be at the South Entrance of Santa Ana Star Field. |
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Despite a slow start to the conference season, there is one thing that holds true if you are the New Mexico Lobos … you just have to get to the tournament, because Ray Birmingham knows how to win that tournament. That’s the goal this weekend as the New Mexico Lobos host the Air Force Falcons in a key Mountain West early season series. Game times are 6:30 p.m. on Friday, 2 p.m. on Saturday and 1 p.m. on Sunday.
And no worries about a government shutdown either, which supposedly could happen at midnight on Friday night. Because Air Force is already on the road, they would be able to continue playing.
Speaking of shutdown, that’s the goal of both of these teams, and its something that wasn’t at a premium last year. New Mexico scored in double digits in all six games against the Falcons, and Air Force did it three times as well. Overall, UNM has won 36 of the last 39 against the Academy, but as Ray Birmingham will tell you, “Every game against Air Force is so tough, because those kids are committed to something bigger than all of this. They have my utmost respect.”
Last year the Falcons took the first game against UNM 18-14 before UNM bounced back with a pair of wins. Both teams are currently sitting at 2-4 in the league, tied with each other and 3-6 Fresno State for the fourth and final spot in the four-team Mountain West Tournament. UNLV, Nevada and San Diego State all have just one loss and with Fresno State taking on first place Nevada, there could be room to move for either team this weekend.
The Lobos will go with their regular three starters, who all pitched last weekend. Justin Slaten and Cody Dye were the starts for certain, with Slaten going 7 innings in a hard-luck 1-0 loss, and Dye going 8 in a 3-1 win. Gasser was roughed up for nine runs, but just three earned in a no-decision as some defensive lapses, including a dropped catch on an easy force out, hurt his cause. The bonus is sitting in the back end of the bullpen is Christian Tripp, who is 1-1 with five saves. UNM’s bullpen is turning into a strength, with Malachi Emond and Chad Smith logging nine games each. UNM even got a brilliant start from Nick Krauth 10 days against against Pepperdine, allowing one hit through five, eventually allowing three runs in 5.2 innings.
Offensively, UNM might have its actual lineup that Ray Birmingham thought he’d have at the beginning of the season. Jared Mang, who missed nearly a month with a broken hand, returned last weekend and hit a three-run home run in his first at bat before getting hit by a pitch three more times. Danny Collier took a game off, and Hayden Schilling, who missed the weekend with an injury, is hopeful. The last time UNM had their big three together in the same lineup was February 22, and the last time they finished a game with them in the lineup was February 19.