Sports - The Daily Lobo

Jordan Goodman attempts to catch a pass during the Lobos match against Utah State on Feb. 7 at WisePies Arena. UNM announced Wednesday that Goodman will transfer from UNM to be closer to his hometown of Temple Hills, Maryland.

Sports

Men's basketball: Goodman goes home

Thomas Romero-Salas | April 23

New Mexico men’s basketball coach Craig Neal announced on Wednesday that forward Jordan Goodman will transfer from the program to be closer to his hometown of Temple Hills, Maryland. Neal said Goodman told him that he wanted to transfer during the team’s end-of-season meeting. “We talked to him about it. He’s concerned about the health of his dad and it just didn’t work out here,” Neal said. “It’s his decision and he’s going to transfer. I’ve given him his release and we wish him the best. It just didn’t work out.”

Sports

Tennis: At the top, but hungry for more

Isabel Gonzalez | April 23

After earning its first regular season title since 2008, the UNM men’s tennis team is still not satisfied. The No. 41 Lobos (19-9, 6-1) earned the top seed in the Mountain West men’s bracket after a 4-0 victory over the Air Force Falcons last Saturday. This was no small accomplishment, but UNM head coach Bart Scott says his team has a lot more to offer. “We are not satisfied. We are still very hungry,” he said.

Sports

Green edition: Paying athletes not a simple proposition

Liam Cary-Eaves | April 20

Do college athletes deserve a paycheck? The debate over whether or not amateurism includes the collegiate sports realm has been a burning topic of discussion for the past couple of years. National broadcasting companies and advertisers can generate more than $1 million in revenue for major sporting events in a wide range of sports. Chris Smith wrote in Forbes magazine that CBS and Turner Warner make upwards of $1 billion on the March Madness games. For the Final Four, Smith wrote that advertisers were paying more than $700,000 for 30-second advertising slots during the two games. Collegiate players do not reap any of the financial benefits that schools, advertisers and broadcasting companies make from the big games.

UNM senior golfer Gavin Green follows through on a shot on April 2 at the Championship Golf Course.Green has been named among the semifinalists for the Ben Hogan Award.

Sports

Green edition: Record-breaking golfer started off a little green

Thomas Romero-Salas | April 20

All New Mexico golfer Gavin Green needed was a confidence boost. After a freshman campaign in which his best finish was ninth place, Green knew he still had plenty of room to grow to compete with some of the best amateur golfers in America. “Before I even came here, I was like, ‘Man, I don’t even know if I can win a college event,’” he said. “My first college event I shot even par and I tied 20th. Back home, you shoot even par you’re top 10, top 5. It’s just a different ball game here, I feel like.”

Sports

Baseball: Maturing team looks inward for success

Liam Cary-Eaves | April 17

Youth and inexperience have New Mexico’s baseball team focusing internally rather than on competitors. Head coach Ray Birmingham said his team has been improving and must continue to grow from within rather than worry about the upcoming series tonight against the UNLV Rebels. “We’re trying to play the game right. If we can get everyone to play the game right, then we should take off,” he said. “It doesn’t have anything to do with the teams that we’re facing, it has to do with us.”

Sports

Spring football: Showcase shows off strengths

Thomas Romero-Salas | April 17

It took senior tight end Reece White longer than most to find the right position. White came to UNM as a walk-on wide receiver in 2012, but didn’t have the speed to play wide out at the Division I level. The coaches moved White to safety, but he never actually took any reps at the position because the team still needed him at wide receiver for the scout team. “I came in a wide receiver and didn’t really fit well,” White said. “I did some scout wide receiver kind of stuff, so they moved me to safety for a short period of time. I wasn’t quite as fast as everybody else.”

Carlos Wiggins eludes a defender during the Lobos spring training April 8. at Tow Diehm Complex.

Sports

Receiver Carlos Wiggins grows from track and field

Thomas Romero-Salas | April 15

By Thomas Romero-Salas The importance of running track and field became clear to Carlos Wiggins after last year. The New Mexico wide receiver combined to run only two races last indoor and outdoor track season and paid for it during football.

UNM catcher Lane Milligan bats the ball Tuesday night at Lobo Field against Grand Canyon. The Lobos play Grand Canyon again tonight at Lobo Field.

Sports

Lobos leave Grand Canyon in the blowing dust

Liam Cary-Eaves | April 15

New Mexico utilized the fierce winds Tuesday night to blow past Grand Canyon University 7-3 at Lobo Field. Not normally known for its power in the lineup, the Lobos connected on two pitches early in the contest to put pressure on GCU. New Mexico never looked back after jumping to a 7-0 lead against the Antelopes.

Senior wide receiver Carlos Wiggins catches the ball during the Lobos spring practice at Tow Diehm Complex on Wednesday morning.

Sports

Spring football: UNM's Guthrie leaves legacy of leadership

Thomas Romero-Salas | April 13

New Mexico lost more than its strong safety last season — it lost a leader. The Lobos are looking to replace David Guthrie after he exhausted his eligibility last year. UNM does have plenty of depth at the safety positions with several players who have in-game experience. However, safeties coach Charles McMillian said it will be difficult to replace Guthrie because of the type of leader he was.

UNM infielder Karissa Haleman misses the ball to take out the Colorado player at Lobo field Saturday. The Lobos won the series.

Sports

Softball: Lobos take rubber match over CSU Rams

Isabel Gonzalez | April 13

It was a productive weekend for the New Mexico softball team as the Lobos took the series against Colorado State with a 7-4 win on Sunday. The Lobos fell 2-0 to the Rams on Friday but took a 4-3 win on Saturday. UNM head coach Erica Beach said the rubber game would be difficult. “We always have competitive series against Colorado State, no matter what the records are,” she said. “We had great pitching, great hitting and great defense today. It was a tough fought game ... I’m really proud of these girls for toughing it out and being gritty.”

Sports

Sports briefs for April 13, 2015

J.R. Oppenheim | April 13

The UNM women’s basketball team handed out six team awards at its end-of-year banquet, held Friday night at the Albuquerque Marriott. According to a release, freshman Cherise Beynon received the Student-athlete of the Year award and the Most Improved Player award.

Sophomore first baseman Jack Zoellner attempts to tag a runner out at first base during the Lobos versus Air Force game Saturday afternoon. The Lobos went on to increase their lead to the final score of 5-0 in the seventh inning.

Sports

Baseball: Stevens throws shutout win over Air Force

Thomas Romero-Salas | April 13

Tyler Stevens made history in just his sixth career start. New Mexico’s freshman starting pitcher tossed a one-hit complete game shutout in a 5-0 win over Air Force on Sunday at Lobo Field. It was the first one-hit game thrown by the Lobos since 1976 when Tom Bepko and Craig Steiner combined to give up one hit against Colorado Mines in seven innings. The last individual pitcher to throw a one-hitter was Ron Simms, who did it against New Mexico State in 1973. “Nothing really much to say except I just attacked the zone and I had great defense,” Stevens said. “When you have hits at key times, you just have to throw strikes and pound the zone and let your defense work.”

Clay Davie coaches sophomore defensive end William Udeh during Wednesdays football practice at Towe Diehm complex. Davie was promoted from offensive graduate assistant to tight ends coach.

Sports

Father, son bond on football field

Thomas Romero-Salas | April 10

Maybe it shouldn’t come as a surprise that Clay Davie decided to be a football coach. After all, his father, New Mexico head coach Bob Davie, has been in the coaching game for almost 30 years. But Bob Davie never tried to pressure or persuade his son into becoming a coach.

Sophomore infield player Jasmine Casados high-fives a teammate after her home run on Friday afternoon. The Lobos play against Colorado tonight at 5 p.m. at Lobo Field.

Sports

Series sweep at the hands of Fresno State humbled Lobos

Liam Cary-Eaves | April 10

Following New Mexico’s first Mountain West series loss, the Lobos will look to get its offense back on track after being shut down by Fresno State. Head coach Erica Beach said her squad struggled against one of the best pitchers in the conference, but that the offense must maintain its confidence against a potent Colorado State team.

UNM freshman Daniel Lam competes the long jump on Saturday afternoon in the Don Kirby Tailwind Invitational.

Sports

Lobos dominate home turf

Staff Report | April 6

The New Mexico men’s and women’s outdoor track and field teams won six events at the Don Kirby Invitational on Saturday. Distance runner Peter Callahan, thrower Michael Ellis, jumper Logan Pfilsben and distance runner Sophie Connor all claimed gold, while the UNM’s men’s and women’s 4x400 meter relay teams took first.

UNM freshman forward/midfielder Sam Gleadle tries to steal the ball from Air Forces Ryan Ward on Saturday afternoon at Robertson Field. The Lobos defeated the Falcons 2-1 in overtime.

Sports

Match against AFA ends in overtime

Isabel Gonzalez | April 6

The UNM men’s soccer team earned a 2-1 victory over Air Force Saturday in its last home spring match of the season. The Lobos hosted the Falcons at Robertson Field and to pull off the win after 90 minutes of regulation time and 20 minutes of overtime.

UNM outfielder Mariah Rimmer catches the ball on Friday afternoon at Lobo Field against Nevada. The Lobos lost their third game 7-4.

Sports

Lobos fall short in series

Liam Cary-Eaves | April 6

New Mexico’s inability to find the strike zone late in the game hindered the Lobos’ chances of sweeping Nevada. In the top of the sixth with the game tied at 4, junior pitcher Lauren Soles was all over the zone in her short relief attempt. Nevada took advantage of the righty’s wild outing, scoring three runs in the top of the sixth eventually leading to the Wolf Pack’s 7-4 victory at Lobo Field on Saturday.

Quarterback Austin Apodaca takes a snap during spring football practice at the Tow Diehm Complex on March 27. Apodaca turned down an invitation to visit UNM for a recruiting trip out because of a commitment to Washington State. He later transferred to a junior college and now has joined the Lobos. For more, see Page 16.

Sports

Apodaca guns for QB spot after roundabout journey to UNM

Thomas Romero-Salas | April 6

The timing wasn’t right for Austin Apodaca. After being committed to Washington State for nine months, it didn’t feel like the correct decision for the high school quarterback to take a visit to New Mexico and see what the Lobos had to offer.

Sports

Sports briefs for April 6

April 6

After taking the first game on the road against San Diego State, UNM dropped the final two games of the three-game series. In the rubber match, the Lobos made a late run at the Aztecs, but two runs in the top of the ninth wasn’t enough for New Mexico.

Kimmie Carson, left, and fellow defensive player move into a tackle position to attempt to tackle a running back Wednesday at the Dow Tiehm Complex for football spring training.

Sports

Lobos' big men may be short on experience

Thomas Romero-Salas | April 3

Spring football has shown how thin New Mexico is at the linebacker position. The Lobos do have several linebackers with game experience on the roster, but that is mostly limited to backup minutes. The only regular starters in spring football are redshirt freshman inside linebacker Kimmie Carson and sophomore outside linebacker Donnie White. Both started eight games last season.