ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – The University of New Mexico baseball team will host the No. 9 Texas Tech Red Raiders on Tuesday at 3 p.m. (MT) at Santa Ana Star Field. The game will be Taco Tuesday and $3 ticket game.
The Lobos and Red Raiders previously played two midweek games in Lubbock, Texas, on March 15-16. Texas Tech took both games by scores of 28-2 and 11-5.
LAST WEEK FOR THE LOBOS
- The Lobos were swept by the San Diego State Aztecs on their home field this past weekend.
- Despite fighting hard and almost completing a comeback in both the second and third games, New Mexico was unable to finish it off.
- The Lobos dropped the first game on Thursday, April 14, by a final score of 10-3. Kamron Willman led the team as he went 3-for-4 with a double and a RBI.
- New Mexico lost a heartbreaker game two on Friday, April 15, by 14-13. Braydon Runion highlighted the night as he went 4-for-5 with three home runs. This was the first time a Lobo to hit three home runs in a single game since Carl Stajduhar against Air Force on May 6, 2017.
- The Lobos lost the final game of the series by a score of 11-8 on Saturday, April 16, despite battling back from a 9-1 deficit. The game was cut short after eight full innings player due to a drop dead time cutoff for San Diego State’s travel. Four Lobos – Jeffrey David, Kyle Landers, Lance Russell and Cole Posey – hit home runs in the matchup.
SCOUTING THE RED RAIDERS
- New Mexico is trailing Texas Tech 47-78-1 in the all-time series, but the Lobos have a winning 27-25-1 record against the Red Raiders on their home field at Santa Ana Star Field.
- The Red Raiders dropped to No. 9 (previously No. 4) in D1Baseball’s weekly poll released on April 18, after being swept by being swept by Big12 rival TCU this past weekend (April 14-16) and dropping a midweek matchup to Oklahoma on April 12.
- Jace Jung leads Texas Tech with a .379 batting average, including 53 hits, 15 doubles and 10 homeruns, 41 RBI and 50 runs.
- The Red Raiders lead the nation with 360 runs scored this season.
RUNION RAKES
- After transferring from Texas Tech, Braydon Runion has recently emerged as one of the Lobos’ two sluggers this season, tying fellow transfer (Odessa College) Lenny Junior Ashby with a team-leading eight home runs this season.
- Runion hit three home runs on April 15 against San Diego State, becoming the first Lobo to connect for three jacks in a single game since Carl Stajduhar on May 6, 2017.
- Despite missing a few games at the beginning of the season, Runion has stepped up since then, earning himself 25 starts and 28 total games played.
- The Florence, Ky., native also hit a solo home run against his previous team on March 16.
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 4-4 record in nine starts this season.
TOUCH ‘EM ALL ASHBY
- Lenny Junior Ashby leads the Lobos in almost every offensive category with a .338 batting average, eight home runs, 47 hits, and 32 RBI.
- 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.
- With a total of 22 extra base hits (13 doubles, one triple and eight home runs) this season, Ashby has established himself as New Mexico’s power hitter.
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 13 appearances, McBroom holds a 2-1 record and has notched three saves.
- The Oakley, Calif., native has pitched 33.0 innings and struck out 25 batters during that time. He holds opponents to a .308 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.
- His second win came in the Lobos’ 4-3 win over Fresno State on April 9. His outing consisted of 3.0 innings of scoreless ball, allowing just two hits and fanning two.
AROUND THE CONFERENCE
- With 17 triples and .49 average per game so far, New Mexico leads the conference.
- With nine starts on the season, Riley Egloff and Brett Russell are tied for first with five other pitchers in the conference for most starts.
- With three triples, Willie Cano and Jeffrey David are second in the conference.
SEEING DOUBLE
- The Lobos lead the nation in turning double plays with 42 DP’s this season, with a second-best 1.20 double plays turned per game.
- The middle infield consists of a combination of either Kamron Willman, Chase Weissenborn, Cole Posey or Lance Russell. All together, the four of them account for 244 assists and 128 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 four out this season, one vs Holy Cross, one at Wichita State, one at Air Force and one vs San Diego State.
- The Lobos have caught ten 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.
- This season, Landers has a .283 batting average with a team-leading 13 doubles.
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. Playing mostly short and occasionally second, he has 38 putouts and 71 assists.
- Lenny Junior Ashby (Odessa College transfer) leads the team with a .338 batting average, 47 hits, 32 RBI and eight homeruns, starting in all 35 games.
- Jeffrey David (Dallas Baptist transfer) is the only other Lobo to start in all 35 games, notching a team-high 27 RBI while batting .329 with 47 hits and 29 RBI.
- Owen Loesch (Seminole State JC transfer) and Brian McBroom (Howard College transfer) have been assets out of the bullpen for New Mexico, combining for 48.0 innings and 36 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 Lobos travel to Las Vegas to face the MW leader UNLV for a three-game series this upcoming weekend (April 22-24). First pitch for Friday’s series opener is set for 7:05 p.m. (MT) at Earl E. Wilson Stadium. Saturday’s game is set for 2:05 p.m. and Sunday’s closer is set for 12:05 p.m.
To keep up with all things Lobo Baseball, follow @UNMLoboBaseball on Twitter and Instagram.