The UNM baseball team will take a break from conference action this weekend when it plays host to Texas A&M-Corpus Christi for a three-game series.
The Lobos have been on a tear so far in the young spring season, posting an impressive 19-10 overall record including 7-2 in the Mountain West Conference. UNM is only three wins shy of last year's total when it posted a miserable 22-35 mark.
The Lobos have always been a threat at the plate, but this year they have added a stronger bullpen and a better starting rotation.
"Our starters have thrown a lot of strikes and kept us in ball games," head coach Rich Alday said. "Our relievers have also done a good job and we have some guys that are swinging the bat pretty good."
Indeed, first base slugger Chris Alexander has had a mammoth fall so far, pounding out 17 home runs including eight in the last 10 games. Alexander also has 52 RBIs, a mark that is on pace to smash the MWC record.
"Chris has really swung the bat well, he's definitely our power hitter," Alday said.
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"Other hitters around him also get pitches to hit."
Alexander has been the power hitter for UNM, but it's shortstop Dusty Young that sets the table for the rest of the team. Young is currently on a 27-game hitting streak, good enough for third highest in team history. He was named MWC player of the week last week after going 7-for-13 against the University of Utah.
"Our best offensive guy right now is Dusty Young," Alday said. "He's played really well for us, not only offensively but defensively too."
Scoring runs is something the Lobos have traditionally been able to do, but with the high altitude and Coors Field-like presence where balls have a tendency to carry over the fence, the pitching staff has been a nice surprise. Ace James Vermilyea has been phenomenal and starters Kris Gross and Chad Giannetti have held their own, but it's the bullpen that has been the biggest difference.
"They're throwing a lot of strikes and keeping the ball downstairs," Alday said. "For the most part they are keeping the ball in the park and that's the key."
UNM will have its work cut out this weekend when it takes on the Islanders who are 18-12 on the season including a 5-0 victory over then-No. 1 ranked Texas early in the year. Hurler Jorge Huerta and his 1.61 ERA lead the Islanders on the mound and Humberto Aguilar with his .387 average pace Texas A&M-C.C. at the plate.
"We're hoping to win three ballgames," Alday said of this weekend's matchup.
The games are slated for 2 p.m. on Friday, and 1 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday at Lobo Field. Sunday's game can be heard on 1150 AM.
