New Mexico pleased to be hosting league tourney
UNM will open tonight against Nevada
The University of New Mexico baseball team is in the catbird seat for the 2017 Mountain West tournament.
Several players from UNM’s top-seeded squad emphasized the point Wednesday morning, watching their first-round opponent (Nevada) practice from the viewing deck atop their clubhouse. The Lobos (29-25-1) and fourthseeded Wolf Pack (19-34) will square off tonight as the four-team, doubleelimination tournament gets underway at Santa Ana Star Field.
It’s fair to say the Lobos have a lot going for them as tournament hosts. New Mexico won last year’s conference tournament on its home field and has posted an 18-8 record there this season.
“I’m really excited to have it here,” said junior outfielder and Albuquerque native Danny Collier, who missed the 2016 tournament because of injury.
“Last year I had goosebumps and I didn’t even play. Getting another chance to do this in my hometown is awesome. It’s exactly what we wanted.”
On the other hand, Collier, his teammates and Lobo coach Ray Birmingham know recent Mountain West tournament history is not on their side. The league’s last two No. 1 seeds endured the dreaded “0-2 and barbecue” scenario, losing their first two games and being eliminated.
No top seed has won the Mountain West tournament since UNM pulled it off in 2012.
“We know all about that,” junior outfielder/pitcher Luis Gonzalez said. “Winning (the tournament) might be harder this year, too, because there’s only four teams and they’ve all been playing well.”
The four-team format, set up like an NCAA Regional bracket, is new for the Mountain West this season. Previous tournaments have included every conference team or all except the lastplace finisher.
While some still prefer the old format, the fourteam concept certainly generated excitement. All four seeding positions were determined on the final weekend of the regular season. The tournament host site was decided on the last day.
The four teams that squared off last weekend will meet again in today’s first round. No. 2 seed San Diego State (38-18) takes on No. 3 Fresno State (32-23) in the tournament opener at 3 p.m. The Bulldogs won two of three from the Aztecs last weekend in San Diego.
New Mexico, meanwhile, dropped two of three to Nevada last week as the Wolf Pack played its way into the tournament field. The Lobos say the series loss was a learning experience.
“Nevada was playing for their season (last week) and they came after us,” sophomore Jared Mang said. “We’re all playing for our seasons now.”
Tonight’s game figures to be a rematch of the starting pitchers who opened last week’s series in Albuquerque. Nevada’s Trevor Charpie got the better of UNM’s Tyler Stevens in a 5-2 Wolf Pack victory last Thursday.
Stevens said he might attack some Nevada hitters differently based on last weekend’s series, but he believes execution and conditions will play larger roles.
“I’m going to attack from the first hitter to the last,” Stevens said. “I need to make them earn everything they get.”
Charpie effectively pitched inside to UNM’s right-handed hitters last week and was helped by a strong wind blowing in from left field. Mang believes seeing Charpie for a second time will benefit the Lobo hitters.
“It’s helpful having an idea how they attacked you last time,” he said. “I think we’ll be a little more aggressive this time around.”
UNM junior Carl Stajduhar conceded that last week’s series win figures to give the Wolf Pack confidence. Nevada right fielder Mike Echavia should be particularly comfortable after going 11-for-15 with two doubles, a triple and a home run at Santa Ana Star Field last week.
Still, the Lobos like their position and they don’t believe last week’s series will carry over.
“Some people have said Nevada woke up the sleeping giant,” Stevens said. “I believe that. We have to come out (today), play our baseball and play like we own the field. That’s what our fans want to see and that’s what we want to show them.”