ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.— The Lobos have a split week with two Mountain West opponents and four games, starting with a midweek doubleheader at home against UNLV on Wednesday. First pitch is set for 12:00 p.m. with game two to follow 30 minutes after the conclusion of game one.
Both games will have free admission and will be streamed on the Mountain West Network with live stats available.
GAME 1 | LIVE STATS
GAME 2 | LIVE STATS
UNM enters the doubleheader against the Rebels 18-19 on the season, 6-6 in conference play, while UNLV is 20-18 on the season, 7-5 in conference.
LOOK BACK AT LAST WEEK
UNM completed its first sweep of Boise State since 2015 and the second sweep all-time, but the first sweep in Boise. It was the first time that UNM has won consecutive games against BSU since 2016.
In addition, it marked the first sweep of a MW team since 2024 and the first time winning consecutive MW series since 2021.
Through the three games of the series, UNM never trailed and outscored the Broncos 21-5. Of the 21 runs, UNM outscored the Broncos 3-1 in the first, 4-2 in the third, 2-1 in the fourth, 5-1 in the seventh and 7-0 in the eighth (12-1 in the final two innings).
Further, of the 21 runs, 12 were scored with two outs in the inning, including seven runs in the eighth inning of game two.
The Lobos scored seven runs in the top of the eighth of game two to win the series, all with two outs, highlighted by Miracle McKenzie hitting a grand slam.
McKenzie led the team with six hits, six RBI, a .500 batting average and .750 slugging percentage.
In the circle, the Lobos held a 1.27 ERA, with Arianna Capek finishing the weekend with a 0.00 ERA and didn't allow a hit or run in 2.0 innings pitched in game two. Caitlin Benningfield finished with a 0.78 ERA and McKenna Guest finished with a 1.31 ERA.
The Lobos outhit the Broncos 29-16 and .319 to .195.
KEEP THE STREAK ALIVE
The Lobos have won six of their last seven games and have won their last two series, outscoring opponents 49-32 in that span.
UNM has outscored its opponents 9-4 in the first inning, 13-5 in the third inning, 5-3 in the fifth inning, 6-4 in the seventh inning and 7-0 in the eighth inning and has scored in the first inning in five of the games.
Miracle McKenzie has had a hit in the last seven games and DeNae Vasquez-Dickson has reached base in the last seven games with Jessica DeLeon registering a hit in the last five and Gabrielle Briones reaching base in the last five games.
In the last seven games, UNM is outhitting its opponents .321 to .270 and in hits 61-54, with 10 hits each from McKenzie and Vasquez-Dickson. Of the 61 hits, UNM has hit five doubles, a triple and 11 home runs with McKenzie accounting for four home runs and Allie Williams three.
HOLD THE LEAD
UNM is 6-2 when leading after the first inning, 14-4 when holding a lead after the third inning, 14-3 when leading after the fourth inning, 13-3 when leading after the fifth inning and 12-0 when leading after six.
In addition, the Lobos are 14-7 when scoring first and 3-0 in extra innings.
The Lobos are outscoring their opponents 165-161 on the season: 20-17 in the second inning, 29-17 in the third inning, 19-18 in the seventh inning and 11-2 in extra innings.
TWO OUTS, SO WHAT?
Of UNM’s 165 runs, 71 (43.0%) have come with two outs, including 13 games with multiple runs scored with two outs.
Twenty of Miracle McKenzie’s 36 RBI on the season have come with two outs, as have 10 of Jessica DeLeon’s 13.
Of note, DeLeon drove in the game-winning run against UTEP on Feb. 27 with two outs.
UNM was 14-21 in game two at Abilene Christian with two outs with 10 of the 13 runs coming with two outs in the inning.
Against South Alabama, UNM was 10-16 with two outs and 14 of the 16 runs were scored with two outs.
In the series at Boise State, 12 of the 21 runs came with two outs.
McKenzie is 16-34 (.471) with two outs with DeLeon 14-41 (.341) and Gabrielle Briones 13-34 (.382).
WALK IT OUT
The Lobos have 109 walks this season with 10 games with five or more walks, including a season-high seven walks against Tarleton State and six walks in five games.
In the series against San Diego State, the Lobos drew 14 walks, including three walks to start the game in game one and three walks in the third inning of game two. In the series at Boise State, UNM drew 15 walks with six in game one, four in game two and five in game three.
Of the 109 walks, 46 came on full counts, 35 on 3-1 counts and 28 on four pitches.
UNM has led off with a walk in seven games. DeNae Vasquez-Dickson led off the game against Northwestern State on Feb. 7 and the Tarleton State game on Feb. 27 with a walk and Briana Williams led off the Louisiana Tech game, third game at Abilene Christian, Houston Christian game on Feb. 28 and game one against San Diego State with a walk. Allie Williams led off game one against GCU with a walk.
Miracle McKenzie leads the team with 17 walks with Jessica DeLeon closely behind with 16. Seventeen different players have at least one walk with 15 with multiple walks.
UNM’s pitching staff didn’t allow a walk in the win against Samford and has allowed only one walk in eight games this season.
The Lobos drew 160 walks last season, drawing five or more walks in eight games with a season-high seven done twice. UNM’s 160 walks were the most since 2022.
Three players finished with 20-plus walks, including 21 for DeLeon and 20 for Vasquez-Dickson.
Conversely, UNM’s pitchers did not allow a walk in five games and was 4-1 when not allowing a walk last season.
STRIKEOUT STAT
The Lobos rank second in the Mountain West in strikeouts per seven innings (5.41) and strikeout-to-walk ratio (1.92) with freshman Caitlin Benningfield leading the conference in strikeouts (89) and fourth in strikeout-to-walk ratio (3.42).
As a staff, the Lobos have struck out 188 batters, led by Benningfield’s 89 with McKenna Guest the next highest at 54.
UNM struck out a season-high 13 against Samford on March 8 and have struck out five or more in 20 games.
ABOUT THE OPPONENT
UNLV is 7-5 in conference coming off of a series win at home against Colorado State. The Rebels have also won series against Fresno State and San Diego State and have won four of their last five games.
The Rebels are hitting .309 with 297 hits, comprised of 60 doubles, seven triples and 36 home runs. On the bases, UNLV is 38-43 in stolen base attempts with Natalie Turner 11-13 and Taryn Calderon 9-9.
Six pitchers have made an appearance in the circle, led by 23 appearances and 16 starts by Lauren Fettic. Fettic has thrown four complete games and a team-high 85.2 innings, striking out 45 to 29 walks. Yamina Sherwood has also appeared in 23 games with 10 starts, throwing 73.1 inning with 30 strikeouts to 34 walks, and Emma Wardlaw has started 11 games with 17 appearances and 49.1 innings. As a staff, UNLV holds a 4.52 ERA, allowing 198 runs (155 earned), 316 hits (47 doubles, six triples and 18 home runs) and has struck out 110 to 99 walks.
Following Wednesday's doubleheader, the Lobos head to Nevada for a two-game series starting Saturday.