After dropping two out of three games to Texas Tech University last weekend, the UNM baseball team prepares to kick off its home schedule Saturday at Lobo Field.
The Lobos are coming off a disappointing year that saw them get off to a quick start but ultimately stumble and fall in 2002 with a 22-35 overall record.
In 2003, things are looking bright. UNM returns most of its starters from last year with the exception of second baseman Troy Cairns and outfielder Donny Sevieri, who graduated. The Lobos will also be without catchers Scott Tajima and Todd Stroud.
Key returnees include junior first baseman Chris Alexander, who led the conference last year in home runs (19), RBI's (78) and total bases (171). Third baseman Josh Mader, who hit .388, and Dusty Young (.367) are also back. Sophomore Matt Young (no relation to Dusty) returns after a stellar freshman year. No. 1 pitcher, junior James Vermilyea, is also back after leading the MWC in strikeouts and the Lobos in innings pitched a season ago.
"We have a lot of veterans from last year's club coming back," head coach Rich Alday said.
Newcomers include sophomore catcher Jeff Grady, who will take over catching duties.
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One area of weakness for UNM last year was pitching. This year, the Lobos are looking to shed that label beginning with their top three starting pitchers. Vermilyea looked sharp in his opening outing pitching seven solid innings while taking a hard luck loss for the Lobos in the season opener against TTU.
Senior pitcher Chad Gianneiti is also looking to crack the staff after transferring from the University of Hawaii in the offseason. Senior Aaron Smith was impressive against the Red Raiders, tossing five solid innings. While all three starters have promising potential, an area of concern is the bullpen.
"Our pen has gotten a little bit better but we need a little bit more improvement there," Alday said.
One addition to the bullpen is sophomore outfielder/pitcher Joe Salas, who closed out Sunday's victory against the Red Raiders. He posted the team's lowest ERA (3.79) while also putting out five home runs and 37 RBI's in limited playing time in 2002.
On the defensive side of the diamond, the Lobos are a solid club that should benefit from a mostly veteran team.
"We've got a good infield," Alday said. "We think that our defense will be one of our strengths."
UNM returns all of its starting infielders aside from Cairns at second base.
Offensively the Lobos struggled in the first two games of the season, but they picked it up in the final game against TTU scoring nine runs. Historically, UNM has been an excellent offensive team.
Alexander will be the main focus of a potent lineup. Dusty Young and Mader will also play key roles in getting the wheels turning.
"I think we are a much better hitting club this year," Alday said.
A Glance at the MWC
The Mountain West Conference will be a tough league this year, with San Diego State University playing the preseason favorite. The Aztecs are led by Major League prospect Tony Gwynn Jr., not to mention his sure-bet hall of fame dad, who will steer the reigns in his coaching debut.
Another MWC team to look out for is the Running Rebels from the University Nevada-Las Vegas.
"UNLV really got much better this offseason with their recruits," Alday said.
Brigham Young University cannot be overlooked after winning the MWC tournament last year. Utah will be competitive despite losing much of its offense while Air Force will continue to surprise the league.
The Lobos are coming off their 13th consecutive home winning record, posting an 18-12 record at Lobo Field last year.
UNM welcomes New Mexico Highlands this weekend, with games on Saturday, Sunday and Monday. A game was scheduled for Friday but has been moved back due to weather concerns. All three contests begin at 1 p.m., at Lobo Field.
