Lobos sweep AFA in baseball...

[loborick]

Smith Throws Complete Game in 13-3 Win


Atkinson leads Lobos at the plate




FARMINGTON, N.M. --- Junior Kevin Atkinson powered the Lobo offense and Stephen Smith threw a complete game as the University of New Mexico baseball team beat Air Force, 13-3, at Ricketts Park. The Lobos improved to 24-12 overall and 8-4 in Mountain West Conference action. Air Force dropped to 11-22 and 0-11.

"We're playing some good baseball right now," said Lobo head coach Ray Birmingham. "We swung the bats pretty well. It was cold Friday night and we did okay. Then as it warmed up, we started hitting, and that's what we needed. The offense we showed the last two days is what we are capable. We match that up with the pitching that we have and we've got a chance."

Air Force got on the scoreboard first on a Ben Ausbun RBI double, 1-0.

New Mexico got the bats going in the fourth. Atkinson hit a three-run double to center field to put UNM ahead 3-1. Rafael Neda pushed Atkinson across the plate on a single and scored on a single by Scott Gracey, 5-1.

The Lobos added a run in the fifth, sixth, and seventh for an 8-3 lead. A five-run eighth, including a Brian Cavazos-Galvez home run, gave UNM the 13-3 win.

Atkinson led the Lobos at 4-of-5 from the plate with five RBI, a home run, two doubles, and two runs scored.

For Smith (3-1), it was his first complete game of the season and second of his Lobo career. Smith struck out seven, walked one, and gave up three runs on 10 hits. Jake Petro (1-5) took the loss for the Falcons.

The Lobos return to action on Tuesday night against Arizona. Game time at Isotopes Park is set for 6 p.m. Famous Texas Tech heckler Chris Snead will be in town for Sportsmanship Night at the ballpark.

http://golobos.cstv.com/sports/m-basebl/recaps/041308aab.html

[Bloo]

They scored 46 runs up in Farmington against the Air Force- 26 in yesterday's game alone!

Way to go, guys!

[Bloo]

Cavazos-Galvez Hits 4 Home Runs In 26-9 Win Over Air Force (http://golobos.cstv.com/sports/m-basebl/recaps/041208aab.html)

Norton picks up fourth win of season

Brian Cavazos-Galvez set several UNM and MWC records against Air Force on Saturday night.

April 12, 2008

FARMINGTON, N.M. --- Junior Brian Cavazos-Galvez hit four home runs with 10 RBI as the University of New Mexico baseball team beat Air Force, 26-9, at Ricketts Park. Cavazos-Galvez set or tied five UNM records and for Mountain West Conference records with his 6-of-7 performance at the plate.

"It was great to come out here and get the win," said Cavazos-Galvez. "I was happy to be able to give some run support and RBI for our team, so our pitcher (Jacob Norton) would be able to get us another win."

Cavazos-Galvez set UNM single-game records for home runs (4) and total bases (19), and tied single-game records in runs (6), hits (6), and RBI (10). All are also MWC records expect for hits. The previous total bases record of 16 in a game was set by Walt Arnold against UTEP on April 18, 1980. The previous home run record of three in a game has held up for 13 years, last set by Mark Wulfert versus Air Force on May 13, 1995. Wulfert was in attendance at tonight's game.

The Lobos (23-12, 7-4 MWC) hit eight home runs in the game, tied for second on the all-time team home runs list. The 26 RBI is third on the Lobos all-time list, while 28 hits ranks fourth. UNM's 61 total bases are a MWC record, while the eight home runs ranks second in league history.

Cavazos-Galvez wasn't the only Lobo to have a strong game at the plate. First baseman Kevin Atkinson was 4-of-5 from the plate with two home runs, a triple, a walk, four RBI, and four runs scored. Third baseman Ian Hollick was 4-of-5 with a solo home run, a double, a sacrifice fly, two RBI and two runs. Shortstop Scott Gracey was 3-of-6 with a double, a triple, two RBI and two runs, while Matt Hibbitts also had three hits with four runs, a double, three RBI and a walk. Atkinson (double), Hollick (triple) and Gracey (home run) were each one part of the cycle short in the game.





The scoring began early with Cavazos-Galvez first home run of the game, a three-run shot to center field to give UNM a 3-0 lead. Atkinson followed in the next at-bat with a solo shot, 4-0.

New Mexico picked up four more runs in the second off of a two-run double by Hibbitts and Cavazos-Galvez second home run, that scored Hibbitts, 8-0.

Five more runs in the third, including home runs by Cavazos-Galvez and Hollick, bumped the Lobo lead to 13-0.

After a scoreless fourth, Air Force (11-21, 0-10 MWC) cut the Lobo lead to 13-5 with five runs on five hits.

In the bottom of the fifth, Atkinson hit his second home run, scoring Cavazos-Galvez who started the inning with a single, 15-5.

The Lobos scored three more runs in the sixth on a double by Cavazos-Galvez, a triple by Atkinson, and a sac fly by Hollick, 18-5.

Lobo starter Jacob Norton (4-2) gave up just one more run to the Falcons in the seventh, 18-6. Norton threw seven complete innings, striking out four, walking one, and giving up six runs on seven hits.

Bret Fanning made the most of his relief appearance of center fielder Adam Courcha. Fanning hit the Lobos' eighth home run of the game to start the seventh inning, 19-6.

Drew Kendrick gave up three runs to the Falcons in the eighth in his only inning of relief, 19-9.

The Lobos manufactured seven runs in the eighth, including Cavazos-Galvez' fourth home run of the game, a solo shot. Cavazos-Galvez' home run started a string of eight consecutive Lobos getting on base on a hit or a walk, 26-9.

Ryan Escarcega threw the ninth for the Lobos, getting Air Force to fly out twice and strikeout.

Brad Pingel (2-2) took the loss for Air Force.

New Mexico and Air Force wrap up the series on Sunday, April 13. Game time at Ricketts Park is set for noon.

[loborick]

Lobos are tied for second in the MWC with TCU, one game behind SDSU.

[Garishwolf]

THINK they will break top 25 this year????