ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — The University of New Mexico baseball team is back on the road for another three-game conference series, this time facing San Diego State for the first time this season. The series will open with a doubleheader on Friday at 2 p.m. MT, and conclude with a single game on Sunday at 2 p.m. MT ,all in San Diego, Calif.
The UNM pitching staff has been phenomenal this season, claiming the Mountain West Pitcher of the Week honor in each of the last three weeks.
Most recently, it was junior Tristin Lively, who garnered this honor after pitching a total of six innings in UNM’s 5-1 win over Nevada. The Las Cruces, N.M., native struck out six batters, and allowed just two hits on the day, the fewest allowed by the junior this season. Although the Wolf Pack scored in the first inning, Lively posted three 1-2-3 innings, rendering Nevada scoreless through the remainder of the game. Lively currently second in the Mountain West in opposing batting average (.171).
Right-handed pitcher Justin Armbruester has been tabbed the Mountain West Pitcher of the Week the two previous weeks of play prior to Lively. The senior from Sammamish, Wash., started on the mound in game two of the Lobos’ doubleheader versus Fresno State on Saturday, Mar. 13. Armbruester pitched a total of 9.0 innings, striking out 17 players, holding the Bulldogs to just two hits. The 17 strikeouts are the second-most in a single game nationally this season. The senior threw a strike on 70-percent of his pitches against the Bulldogs. The last time a Lobo pitcher posted 17 or more strikeouts in a game was on Jim Serrano on Feb. 17, 1998, versus Point Lomas. Armbruester is just the seventh pitcher in UNM history strikeout 17 or more players in a game. The following week in game two versus K-State, Armbruester struck out eight batters, allowing just one run, the second-lowest for the senior this season, and struck out another 11 batters last weekend in game two versus Nevada.
The Lobos will be going with the same pitching rotation as they have had over the last couple of weeks, which will bring some stability to the Lobo defense.
Harry Fullerton and Kyler Castillo continue to be studs for the Lobos and were major players in UNM’s two wins last weekend. Castillo led the Lobos offensively in game three versus Nevada, going three-for-four from the plate, delivering two doubles, and posting three RBIs and one run, and hit a near grand slam. In game one, Fullerton tied the game at three-a-piece in the ninth inning from a two-run single. The senior delivered in a bases-loaded situation, bringing in both sophomore Mack Chambers and Castillo, allowing the Lobos to fight on in extra innings, and eventually win the game.
The Lobos will look to continue their two-game win streak versus SDSU this weekend. Here’s how to keep up with the games:
DAY ONE | 4/2 | 2 p.m. MT | DH
Watch: https://goaztecs.com/watch/
Live Stats (Game One): http://stats.statbroadcast.com/broadcast/?id=336130
Live Stats (Game Two): http://stats.statbroadcast.com/broadcast/?id=336142
DAY TWO | 4/3 | 2 p.m. MT
Watch: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpTKQYwJEkFo1FMHZpsHR_w
Live Stats: http://stats.statbroadcast.com/broadcast/?id=336131