ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – The University of New Mexico baseball team are headed back down south for take two of the Rio Grande Rivalry, going head-to-head with New Mexico State at 6 p.m. (MT) on Tuesday at Presley Askew Field.
This game marks the second of four meetings between the Lobos and Aggies this season. The first meeting on last Tuesday, March 29, resulted in New Mexico run-ruling New Mexico State for a seven-inning 19-2 victory, snapping a six-game losing streak to the in-state rival.
LAST FEW GAMES FOR THE LOBOS
- New Mexico was swept by the MW leader UNLV this past weekend. The Lobos were outscored 13-57 over the series with the Rebels.
- Kyle Landers led the Lobos through the series as he went 4-for-7 with three runs and two RBI, two doubles and one triple.
- Sean Stephens also had a 4-for-7 series as he started one game and appeared in all three games. He also launched his first homerun of the season in the final game of the series.
- Last Tuesday, the Lobos took an explosive 19-2, seven-inning 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.
SCOUTING THE AGGIES
- New Mexico holds a 161-91 lead in the all-time series over New Mexico State, including a 63-49 away record, after a 19-2 7-inning Lobo win at the Aggies’ home field last Tuesday (March 29).
- Before the win last Tuesday, the two teams had not played since the 2019 season, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
- New Mexico State has a 11-14 record (3-9 in WAC) so far this season, after dropping two of a three-game series against (RV) GCU this past weekend.
- Kevin Jimenez leads the Aggies’ starters with a .344 batting average with 32 hits and 22 runs while starting in all 25 games.
- The Falcons’ starting pitcher for Tuesday’s matchup, Cade Swenson, has a 4.15 ERA in five appearances (one start).
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.
- A few weeks passed until the Lobos hosted Arizona on their 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.
- 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 4-2 record in seven 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 26 so far. He has 37 hits, including 16 for extra bases (eight doubles, one triple and seven home runs).
- Overall, he has a .327 batting average with 20 runs, 13 walks and 45 putouts, starting all 28 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 25.2 innings and struck out 21 batters during that time. He holds opponents to a team-best .301 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 16 triples and .57 average per game so far, New Mexico leads the conference.
- With seven starts on the season, Riley Egloff, Brett Russell and Tristin Lively are tied for first with 7 other pitchers in the conference for most starts.
- With three triples, Willie Cano is tied for first in the conference with four 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 37 DP’s this season, averaging a nation-leading 1.32 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 203 assists and 103 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 26 RBI, starting in all 28 games.
- Jeffrey David (Dallas Baptist transfer) is the only other Lobo to start in all 28 games. He leads the team with 37 hits, 22 runs scored and a .330 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 36.2 innings and 30 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 team heads to Fresno, Calif., for a three-game conference series against Fresno State this weekend, April 8-10.
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