Lobo baseball is well-armed to begin season
Birmingham says staff has quality and depth
The old adage about pitching and defense winning championships hasn’t always applied to the University of New Mexico baseball team. This season could be different. Going into this week’s season-opening College Baseball Classic in Surprise, Arizona, Lobos coach Ray Birmingham is talking more about his team’s pitching staff than its offense. Such is a rare occasion for UNM’s hitting-minded mentor.
But after three straight days of intrasquad games at Santa Ana Star Field this week, Birmingham’s first reaction was to talk pitching.
“This could be the best pitching staff UNM has had in terms of depth and quality arms,” he said. “We’ve got a lot of guys competing for playing time and they’ve been impressive. Our hitters are having a hard time against them.”
New Mexico’s pitching staff figures to be tested early with four games in as many days in Arizona. The Lobos will take on Gonzaga, Oregon State (twice) and Kansas State in the annual tournament, which begins Friday.
UNM appears well-armed for the event with all four primary starting pitchers back from a team that was 14-4 when the coronavirus pandemic
ended the 2020 season. Right-handers Aaron Makil, Justin Armbruester, Tristin Lively and Nathaniel Garley were a combined 6-0 in 15 appearances with a collective 3.04 earned-run average.
Birmingham says righty Riley Egloff, a transfer from Yavapai College, has been pushing for a rotation spot, as well.
Armbruester looked the part of UNM’s ace as a junior last season, posting a 1.14 ERA with 24 strikeouts and just three walks over four starts. But Lively, a junior from Las Cruces, has been as dominant as anyone for the Lobos this offseason, touching 97 mph with his fastball and improved command with all his pitches.
“I feel like our pitching staff’s elite,” Lively said. “(Pitching coach Brandon Higelin) has done a great job helping us improve, and we’ve got guys who want to attack hitters and compete. I can’t wait to see what this staff can do.”
UNM has some big arms returning in the bullpen, too, including Payton Strambler, Jack Murano, Miguel Reyes, Isaiah Campa and Terrell Hudson. Former starter Cody Dye, fully recovered from his 2019 Tommy John surgery, may also play a key relief role.
Catcher Shane Podsednik said he has enjoyed working with UNM’s pitchers this offseason, but he’s looking forward to hitting against someone else.
“Yeah, it’s a very, very competitive staff,” Podsednik said. “We’ve got guys who have good stuff and they’re all in the zone. You have to earn your way on base against these guys.”
Birmingham is confident that his defense will provide better backup this season. The Lobos committed 31 errors in 18 games last season, allowing 27 unearned runs.
The additions of junior-college transfers Mack Chambers and Willie Cano at shortstop and third base, respectively, figure to shore up a left side of the infield that was too often leaky in 2020.
“Our pitching and defense look solid,” Birmingham said. “I’m always confident our hitters will come around, but you can’t win with offense every night. Sometimes you have to shut the other guys down. I think this team can do that.”
SCHEDULE NOTES: After opening in Arizona, UNM is scheduled to host Air Force on Feb. 27-28, but New Mexico’s coronavirus restrictions currently prohibit home games. Birmingham said he and AFA coach Mike Kazlausky have discussed either moving series to Colorado Springs or playing at a neutral site.
UNM, which canceled a scheduled home series against Army and will instead play at Kansas State on March 19-21, has no more home games set until March 27.