New Mexico’s softball team last year surpassed its preseason poll. After being projected ninth in the Mountain West in the coaches poll, the Lobos finished the season fourth in the standings.
According to this year’s poll, the MW coaches expect UNM to match that finish. The poll, released earlier this week, slotted the Lobos fourth heading into the season.
“Pick up where we left off, right?” UNM coach Erica Beach said.
As the team prepares for their season opener this weekend at Arizona State’s Kajikawa Classic, Beach said she takes the improvement in preseason expectations as a show of respect. Yet, it must be taken for what it is and not taken out of context.
“At the end of the day it’s a poll,” Beach said. “It’s people’s opinions on what we’re doing and they haven’t seen one practice. They don’t know what our girls can do. They don’t know about the seven new faces on our team. We keep the polls in perspective here whether it’s good or bad.”
The goal, Beach said, will be to surprise people once again. Even with a fourth-place position heading into the year, New Mexico wants to win a conference title. To do that, UNM likely will likely rely heavily on its offensive punch.
The Lobos lost top run-scorer Brandi Heimburg to graduation, but they do return power with center fielder Mariah Rimmer, third baseman Jasmine Casados, outfielder Shelbie Franc and infielder Michala Erickson. Those four produced at least 27 runs apiece a year ago. Rimmer and Casados also hit over .375 a year ago, with Rimmer leading the team with 65 hits.
“I think that our technique with hitting has gotten a lot better, so I’m really excited to see where our offense can take us,” Casados said.
Beach said Monday she has not yet decided on her hitting order for the first weekend but has options. It will determine whether the coaching staff wants to front-load the order with power or lead off with speed and add the power down for later at-bats. For Beach, it’s figuring out how that puzzle fits together, she said.
UNM also brings back four pitchers from last year’s staff including left-handed senior Lauren Soles, a 10-game winner, and sophomore Krissy Fortner, who had nine wins and five saves. Tess McPherson and Lisa Rodrigues return as well, and the staff brought in freshman Collette Robert.
The regular starting job in the circle remains up for grabs, Beach said, but the coach prefers to open the season with a clean slate. She has a staff that can mix it up with two left-handed and three right-handed hurlers. The returning four pitchers already had a solid camaraderie but brought Robert into the fold, Beach said.
“They really do push each other to do better. It’s not a selfish thing,” Beach said. “They really want the person next to them to be amazing just as much as they want themselves to be. That’s a really cool thing and that’s why I hope that can help us out down the road.”
Get content from The Daily Lobo delivered to your inbox
Regarding defense, Beach said that component has improved incredibly well. Rimmer will anchor the outfield at center with likely two freshmen at left and right, and have veterans in the infield in Erickson and Casados. The infield in particular is moving faster in practice than Beach said she has seen before.
Rimmer said there is competition at each position, and the team is physically capable of performing. The key will be maintaining a mental focus, she said. For example, she said the Lobos can’t get ahead of themselves and must keep control in every situation.
“It’s all mental because you can apply something but you have to be able to apply it mentally before you can apply it physically,” Rimmer said. “I think that’s one thing we have to focus on going into the season: mentally competing every time.”
UNM’s schedule at the Kajikawa Classic, hosted by Arizona State
Friday’s game
UNM vs. San Diego, 7 p.m.
Saturday’s games
UNM vs. Stanford, 2:30 p.m.
UNM vs. Cal Poly, 7:30 p.m.
Sunday’s games
UNM vs. Oregon State, 1:30 p.m.
UNM vs. Kentucky, 3:45 p.m.
J.R. Oppenheim is the assistant sports editor for the Daily Lobo. He primarily covers men’s basketball and women’s soccer. Contact him at assistantsports@dailylobo.com or on Twitter @JROppenheim.
