ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – The University of New Mexico baseball team is set to host the Mountain West leader UNLV for a three-game series this Friday through Sunday, April 1-3. First pitch for Friday and Saturday is set for 6 p.m. (MT), while Sunday is set for noon.
Although the teams faced off in Las Vegas last season, this is the Lobos’ first time hosting UNLV since the 2019 season (May 11-12). New Mexico was set to host the Rebels last season but the series was canceled due to positive COVID tests in UNLV’s program.
LAST FEW GAMES FOR THE LOBOS
- The Lobos are coming off an explosive 19-2 win over in-state rival New Mexico State on Tuesday, March 29, in the first of four Rio Grande Rivalry matchups scheduled this season.
- Matt Haley turned in his best start yet as he fanned eight batters and allowed just two runs on five hits in six innings pitched. All 14 Lobo batters reached base at least once, seven of them having multi-hit games. Kyle Landers had three hits on the night, all three of them being doubles. Cole Posey went 3-for-5, hitting a home run for his second game in a row.
- Last weekend, New Mexico took two out of three games at Air Force on March 25-27.
- The Lobos fell in game one on March 25 by a score of 17-2, but bounced back to take games two and three by final scores of 11-5 and 12-7.
- Pitching picked up in games two and three. Brett Russell turned in his best start yet as he allowed no runs on just three hits and fanned three in 5.2 innings pitched to earn his first win in Saturday’s matchup. Tristin Lively earned his first win of the season and Aaron Makil earned his first save of the season as he allowed no runs on three hits to shut down the Falcons in the final 3.1 innings pitched.
- The Lobos saw the ball well at the academy as Braydon Runion launched two home runs in the series, for his fourth and fifth of the season. Jeffrey David had an outstanding 5-for-5 day at the plate, with three runs, two RBI, two doubles and a triple, in Sunday’s series finale. Lenny Junior Ashby also launched his seventh home run of the season in Saturday’s game.
SCOUTING THE REBELS
- UNLV holds the 95-84 over New Mexico in the all-time series, but the Lobos have a winning 42-26 record on their home field.
- The Rebels and Lobos first faced off in 1978, when New Mexico took a 5-4 victory.
- The squads last met on March 7, 2021, when the Lobos fell, 1-0, to the Rebels in 11 innings.
- UNLV has a 16-9 record (8-1 in MW) so far this season, after defeating Arizona State by a score of 11-10 on Tuesday and taking two games of a three-game series against San Jose State last weekend.
- The Rebels’ Diego Alarcon was named MW Player of The Week and Santino Panaro was named Freshman of the Week. UNLV has earned at least one weekly award every week except the first of the season.
- UNLV was picked to finish second in the conference with 29 total points and one first-place vote.
- The Rebels have the best batting average (.317) in the conference and the most hits (292) and most runs (208).
THE FIGHT IN THE DOG PREVAILS
- After the Lobos lost the first game at Arizona (then-No. 16) on March 8 by a final score of 12-5, New Mexico got its revenge as the team defeated No. 11 Arizona by taking down the Wildcats 12-7.
- In the March 8 matchup, the Lobos actually led the Wildcats through the first six innings, until the ‘Cats exploded for eight runs in the bottom of the seventh and the Lobos were unable to come back from the deficit.
- New Mexico processed and developed its’ game through the next few weeks to face Arizona on the Lobos’ home turf at Santa Ana Star Field.
- The score and lead jumped back and forth through the first two innings, but then the Lobos had an offensive explosion for six runs in the bottom of the fourth.
- Lobo relief pitching came in clutch as the five pitchers to get some innings of relief allowed only two runs through the final six innings.
- Justin Still had a very impressive outing as he came in the sixth with no outs and the bases loaded, shutting down the next three batters on three straight strikeouts.
- Will Armbruester notched his first save of the season as he pitched the final three innings, keeping the power-hitting Wildcats to no runs on just three hits.
- Offensively, Lance Russell led the ‘Bos with a 4-for-6 outing with two runs and two RBI, hitting a single, a double and his first home run of the season. He was just a triple short of the cycle in his outstanding day at the plate.
- Justin Olson launched a grand slam in the Lobos’ big six-run fourth inning, his first home run in the Lobo uniform. His grand slam was the first Lobo grand slam since Carl Stajduhar vs. San Diego State on May 26, 2017. Nearly five years since the last time it happened.
SUNNY SIDE UP
- Riley Egloff was named the MW Pitcher of the Week on March 21 after a career outing against Wichita State on March 18.
- Egloff turned in his best outing in the Lobo uniform against the Shockers, shutting down Wichita State in a career-high eight innings while fanning a career-high nine batters, allowing just four hits for no runs.
- The Littleton, Colo., native has earned his spot as New Mexico’s Friday ace, spotting a 3.97 ERA and 4-1 record in six starts this season.
TOUCH ‘EM ALL ASHBY
- Lenny Junior Ashby leads the Lobos with seven home runs this season.
- The Oranjestad, Aruba, native was named the MW Player of the Week on March 14 after hitting three jacks and a double for a .444 batting average the week of March 7.
- Not only is Ashby a power hitter, he’s also the Lobos’ RBI leader with 24 so far. He has 33 hits, including 14 for extra bases (six doubles, one triple and seven home runs).
- Overall, he has a .343 batting average with 18 runs, 13 walks and 37 putouts, starting all 25 games in left field.
END OF GAME CLEANUP
- Brian McBroom, a transfer from Howard College, has established himself as the Lobos’ key closer through the first month of the season.
- In nine appearances, McBroom holds a 1-0 record and has notched three saves.
- The Oakley, Calif., native has pitched 21.2 innings and struck out 19 batters during that time. He holds opponents to a .287 batting average.
- He earned his first save against Holy Cross on Feb. 25, after going 4.0 innings and allowing two runs on three hits while striking out two.
- McBroom notched his second save against Fresno State on March 11, keeping the Bulldogs scoreless on three hits while fanning one in three innings.
- Two days later, he earned his first win of the season on March 13 against Fresno State as he had a 2.2 inning outing, allowing one run on four hits and fanning four.
- His most dominant outing came in the Lobos’ 4-0 shutout win of Wichita State on March 18. He pitched the final inning of the shutout, fanning three straight batters swinging for a perfect three up-three down inning.
- McBroom’s third save came on the 12-9 win over Wichita State on March 19 in which he pitched the final three innings and allowed two runs on three hits while striking out three to ensure the series win.
AROUND THE CONFERENCE
- With 14 triples and .56 average per game so far, New Mexico leads the conference.
- With six starts on the season, Riley Egloff, Brett Russell and Tristin Lively are tied for first with 10 other pitchers in the conference for most starts.
- With three triples, Willie Cano is tied for first in the conference with three others.
- With two shutouts, New Mexico is also tied for the conference lead in that category.
SEEING DOUBLE
- The Lobos lead the nation in turning double plays with 32 DP’s this season, averaging a nation-leading 1.28 double plays turned per game.
- The middle infield consists of either Kamron Willman or Chase Weissenborn at short and Cole Posey or Lance Russell at second base. All together, the four of them account for 181 assists and 90 putouts.
DONT RUN ON THE ‘BOS
- Catcher Cody Holtz threw out three Spartans runners trying to steal second base in the conference-opening San Jose State series. He threw out another against Fresno State.
- Johnny (Shane) Podsednik has thrown three out this season, one vs Holy Cross, one at Holy Cross and one at Air Force.
- The Lobos have caught eight stealing so far this season.
A BROWN NEW ERA
- In July of 2021, Tod Brown was hired as the Lobos new head coach to fill the role of 14-year former UNM coach Ray Birmingham, who retired at the conclusion of the 2021 season.
- A native of Arizona, Brown returns home to the southwest after spending the past 14 years as North Dakota State’s head coach, earning a 341-350 record during that time
LANDERS ON BOBBY BRAGAN WATCH LIST
- Senior first baseman/designated hitter Kyle Landers was named to the Bobby Bragan Collegiate Slugger Award Watch List prior to the start of the season.
- He held a .293 batting average with 11 doubles, a triple and a homerun for a .467 slugging percentage last season (2021).
- He was the conference batting champ with a .417 batting average and .567 slugging percentage in the shortened 2020 season.
SOMETHING TO PROVE
- Coming off a 16-25 record, the Lobos finished sixth in the conference last season, preceding only San Jose State.
- The squad was voted to finish sixth in the preseason conference poll.
- With an almost completely new coaching staff and roster, the Lobos are hoping to turn things around.
NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK
- New Mexico’s 2022 squad includes 18 newcomers – three DI transfers, 12 JUCO transfers, and three true freshmen.
- Kamron Willman (K-State transfer) has been an asset in the middle infield for the Lobos. At short, he has 23 putouts and 40 assists.
- Lenny Junior Ashby (Odessa College transfer) leads the Lobos with seven homeruns and 24 RBI, starting in all 25 games.
- Jeffrey David (Dallas Baptist transfer) is the only Lobo to start in all 25 games. He leads the team with 35 hits, 21 runs scored and a .343 batting average.
- Owen Loesch (Seminole State JC transfer) and Brian McBroom (Howard College transfer) have been assets out of the bullpen for New Mexico, combining for 31.2 innings and 26 strikeouts.
LIVELY UP THE PLACE
- Tristin Lively was named to the nine-player Preseason All-Mountain West team on February 10. The all-conference team is voted on by coaches around the league.
- Lively has the second-best ERA of returning starting pitchers for the Lobos (4.59 ERA in the spring of 2021).
- In 33.1 innings of work last season, he struck out 36 batters and held opponents to a .186 batting average.
I’M THE CAPTAIN NOW
- Prior to the start of the season, the 2022 squad voted on the team captains.
- The captains were selected solely by the student-athletes.
- Newcomers Kamron Willman and Cody Holtz, along with returner Adam Schneider, were named the 2022 team captains.
ON DECK
The squad heads back down south to Las Cruces, N.M., on Tuesday, April 5, to face in-state rival New Mexico State for take two of the Rio Grande Rivalry. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. (MT) at Presley Askew Field.
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