Connor Mang tabbed preseason All-MW; Lobos picked fifth

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The Mountain West released its annual preseason all-conference team as well as predicted order of finish on Tuesday. As a team the Lobos were picked by the other league skippers to finish fifth in the now eight-team conference. Individually, redshirt junior Connor Mang was named to the 13-player preseason All-Mountain West Team.
 OFFICIAL MW RELEASE

Under the direction of Ray Birmingham, who is ready to embark on his 13^th season as skipper of the Lobos, the UNM baseball team will feature a significant amount of new faces that will be looked upon to contribute. In all, the Lobos return just three starters from the regular lineup last season. On the mound, the Lobos return six pitchers, but an influx of new arms figure to reshape the pitching staff for the coming season.
 
For Mang, the preseason plaudit comes in response to his stellar redshirt sophomore season in which he hit .359 (71-for-198) with 16 doubles, three triples, four home runs and 47 runs batted in. Mang’s batting average, RBIs and double total all ranked in the top-five of the MW, while his hits, and on-base percentage ranked in the top-10.
 
All of Mang’s offensive numbers last season came with him manning one of the corner infield positions, but this year, Mang is slotted to patrol the outfield with a likely home in right field.
 
A freshman All-America selection two years ago, Mang enters his junior season as a career .341 hitter (127-for-372). In 102 total games played, Mang has started the last 99 and has totaled 26 doubles, six triples, six home runs and 74 RBIs.
 
Mang and the rest of the Lobos set out on their 2020 campaign this coming weekend as they will play in the annual Sanderson Ford Collegiate Baseball Classic. The Lobos will play four games over opening weekend with Oregon State first up on Friday at 1 p.m. (MT). The Lobos will then play a split doubleheader against former conference rival BYU on Saturday with games at 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. With no game on Sunday, the Lobos will conclude their opening weekend on Monday morning at 10 a.m. against Gonzaga.