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Justin Still has allowed zero runs in five strong appearances out of the bullpen this season.

Rivalry renewed: Lobos host New Mexico State Tuesday

by Evan O'Kelly

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – An in-state baseball rivalry that dates back to 1948 returns on Tuesday night at Santa Ana Star Field, as the New Mexico baseball team hosts New Mexico State in the first of four scheduled games between the teams this season.

First pitch on We Are New Mexico Night is set for 6 p.m., with fans encouraged to wear red gear for a Cherry Out game. The Lobos (12-7, 3-3 Mountain West) swept all four games from the Aggies (2-15) in last season’s series. The teams will play on April 4 and April 18 in Las Cruces, before completing the 2023 series on May 2 at Santa Ana Star Field.

The Lobos will return to Mountain West Conference action this weekend, with a three-game road set against Nevada kicking off on Friday.

Lobo Baseball Weekly Schedule
All times listed Mountain
Tuesday, March 21 – 6 p.m. – vs. New Mexico State – Santa Ana Star Field
Friday, March 24 – 7:35 p.m. – at Nevada – Reno, Nev.
Saturday, March 25 – 5:35 p.m. – at Nevada – Reno, Nev.
Sunday, March 26 – 2:05 p.m. – at Nevada – Reno, Nev.

Last Time Out: The Lobos are coming off a 2-1 series defeat at Fresno State last weekend, but rallied to win the series finale to put a stop to a three-game losing skid. After falling 5-3 and 9-8 in a pair of close games to start the weekend, UNM claimed a 7-2 victory in the finale to head into Tuesday’s game with momentum.

LOBOS REMAIN ATOP NCAA IN HITTING: In the latest NCAA statistical rankings, the Lobos enter the week continuing to lead the country in hitting with a team batting average of .349. UNM has established itself as one of the preeminent offenses in Division I baseball, ranking second in hits (251), fourth in triples (11), sixth in runs per game (10.5), and eighth in total runs (199). UNM also checks in at No. 15 in slugging percentage at .560, and No. 16 in on-base percentage at .431.

GALLEGOS EARNS WEEKLY AWARD: Junior right-hander Isaac Gallegos was behind the Lobos’ victory over the Bulldogs, authoring eight stellar innings and allowing zero earned runs while striking out a season-high seven hitters. Gallegos’s fourth consecutive victory – which leads the conference – earned him Mountain West Pitcher of the Week recognition on Monday. On the season, Gallegos owns a 2.17 ERA while striking out 26 hitters and walking just eight in his 29.0 innings pitched.

33 for 33: After going 8-for-15 in the three-game series at Fresno State, third baseman Dylan Ditzenberger extended his reached base streak to 33 games and his hitting streak to 15 games. The first-year Lobo is slashing .488/.533/.600 this spring, and is putting together one of the top offensive campaigns in the NCAA. Entering Tuesday’s game, Ditzenberger leads the NCAA in hits per game with 2.05, is second in runs per game with 1.63, third in hits with 39, fifth in batting average at .488 and in runs scored with 31, and is 42nd in on-base percentage at .533.

STILL SCORELESS: Turning in his fifth consecutive scoreless outing of the season on Sunday, sophomore lefty Justin Still has yet to surrender a run. Still has struck out six hitters while allowing just three hits in his 5 2/3 innings of work, and his scoreless string extends into last season to give him a total mark of 6 2/3 innings since he last allowed a run to score.

DAVID EXTENDS HITTING STREAK: Jeffrey David got hits in all three games last week, extending his hitting streak to nine games entering this week’s slate of games. David is also up to 96 career hits in a UNM uniform, as he has a chance to eclipse 100 hits as a Lobo this weekend. Overall on the year David is hitting .345 and leads the team with 27 RBIs.

DIXON REACHES 100 HITS IN GRAND FASHION: Junior second baseman Devon Dixon reached 100 collegiate hits last week, and did so in dramatic fashion with a grand slam in Game 2 against the Bulldogs. After clearing the bases with his 100th knock (87 at Central Arizona College), Dixon followed with a solo home run on Sunday to give him four on the season and 10 in his collegiate career. Dixon continued his error-free play at second base, making 10 more plays in the series and making it nine games in-a-row without a miscue. Dixon also reached 200-career assists in last week’s series, and holds a career collegiate fielding percentage of .959.

HOLLAND REACHES AGAIN AND AGAIN: Extending his season-long reached base streak, junior catcher Jake Holland got aboard in both games last week to make it 14 straight since his Lobo debut on Feb. 17. Holland is slashing .389/.431/.704, and had an RBI last weekend to up his season count to 20 despite just 54 at-bats. Holland has also played error-free defense in 83 chances behind the plate.

ASHBY INCHES CLOSER TO 200 HITS: Lenny Junior Ashby enters this weekend’s series two hits shy of the 200 mark in his collegiate career, racking up 96 during his time at Odessa College and totaling 102 so far in his two seasons with the Lobos. Ashby is hitting .346 this season and is second on the team with 24 RBIs.

SMITH HITS SECOND HR: Kyle Smith made it another productive weekend at the plate, collecting a pair of knocks including his second home run of the year and the ninth of his collegiate career. Continuing the slugging theme he has established this spring, Smith upped his SLG to .586 as four of his seven hits this year have gone for extra bases.

SPENRATH NOTCHES 150 HITS: Reed Spenrath picked up the 150th hit of his collegiate career last week, and continued his stellar defensive play at first base. Spenrath has a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage in 171 chances this season, while continuing to lead the team and the Mountain West with seven home runs.

EGLOFF STRONG DESPITE LOSS: Despite taking the loss last Friday, senior Riley Egloff looked strong once again in his fifth start of the season. The Bulldogs had just one big inning against the righty, with Egloff striking out six hitters in 6 2/3 innings and allowing six hits. Egloff’s six punchouts upped his collegiate career total to 185, as he approaches the 200-strikeout mark including his career at Yavapai College.

MCBROOM SCORELESS, TWICE: Junior reliever Brian McBroom twice put up 1 1/3 scoreless innings in the series against the Bulldogs, striking out two and allowing just two baserunners in a pair of efficient outings. McBroom leads the team with nine appearances this year, and holds a 4.60 ERA in his 15 2/3 innings of work.