In a weekend series that saw flashes of brilliance from New Mexico, the Lobos ultimately faltered in crucial moments, dropping all three games to Tarleton State. The series concluded with a heartbreaking 4-3 walk-off loss on Sunday, as the Texans (8-9) capitalized on late-inning heroics to seal the sweep.
New Mexico (8-9) now turns its attention to Mountain West Conference play, as they prepare to host UNLV (10-5) in a three-game series at Santa Ana Star Field from March 14-16.
Sunday’s Heartbreaker: Lobos Let Lead Slip Away
Despite holding a lead into the ninth inning, the Lobos couldn’t hold off Tarleton’s final push. The Texans strung together three hits to plate two runs in the last frame, stunning New Mexico and sending them home with a tough loss.
Jordy Oriach continued his impressive form, extending his on-base streak to 13 games with an RBI double that opened the scoring in the first inning. Will Asby and Khalil Walker each contributed doubles, while Akili Carris led the team with two hits and two RBIs.
On the mound, right-hander Dayne Pengelly battled through 3.1 innings, limiting the damage before handing the ball to the bullpen. Josh Barnhouse and Ty Cunningham combined for five solid innings of relief, but Cunningham ultimately took the loss after allowing the game-winning runs in the ninth.
Saturday’s Doubleheader: Early Deficits Prove Costly
The Lobos struggled to recover from early holes in both games of Saturday’s doubleheader, getting shut out 4-0 in Game One before falling 9-6 in the nightcap.
New Mexico managed just three hits in the opener, with Will Asby accounting for two of them. Despite a solid outing from Diego Lopez (5.0 IP, 4 ER, 3 K), the offense couldn’t generate enough run support to mount a comeback.
Game Two saw a much more aggressive offensive approach, as the Lobos tallied 13 hits. Gene Trujillo delivered a breakout performance, blasting a two-run homer and reaching base three times. Andrew Neil and Luke Mansy each contributed two hits, while Asby continued his hot streak with another multi-hit effort.
However, Tarleton’s early five-run surge against Lobo starter Ryan Castillo proved too much to overcome. Despite a dominant relief stint from Daxton Purser, who struck out five in two perfect innings, the Texans tacked on insurance runs late to secure the series victory.
Friday’s Opener: Oriach’s Power Display Not Enough
New Mexico got off to a strong start in Friday’s series opener, leading 3-1 through five innings before the Texans exploded for nine runs over the next two frames, handing the Lobos a 10-4 defeat.
Oriach was the highlight of the night, crushing two home runs to drive in three runs. The junior DH now ranks among the top 20 nationally in homers, with all six of his long balls coming in his last 10 games. Tye Wood added two doubles and an RBI sac fly, while Asby and Khalil Walker also contributed extra-base hits.
Starting pitcher Diego Alvarez (5.1 IP, 5 ER, 5 K) was effective early, retiring 12 of 13 batters at one point before running into trouble in the sixth. Jack Messmore struggled in relief, giving up five runs, while Purser and Blake Bell provided scoreless outings to finish the game.
What’s Next?
With no midweek contests, the Lobos will have four days to regroup before hosting UNLV in their Mountain West opener. Fans can catch all three games at Santa Ana Star Field from March 14-16, with broadcasts available on the Mountain West Network.
Lobos Dominate Jack Kennedy Classic with Statement Win Over No. 67 Santa Clara
Two weeks ago, after heartbreaking losses to No. 45 Middle Tennessee State and No. 55 Utah, first-year head coach Rob Bareford remained confident. “We’re right there, really close. We’re going to get one,” he said. On Sunday, the Lobos didn’t just get one—they made a statement.
Facing No. 67 Santa Clara, a team riding a 9-4 record, UNM put together an emphatic 6-1 victory to claim its first ranked win of the season and secure the 2025 Jack Kennedy Classic with a perfect 2-0 sweep. The Lobos had already defeated Wichita State 5-2 on Friday, setting the stage for their dominant performance.
Returning to their home court for the first time this season after nine consecutive road matches, the Lobos wasted no time asserting themselves in doubles play. The No. 70-ranked duo of Aram Noroozian and Georgio Samaha quickly dismantled Luca Bluett and John Kim 6-1. Moments later, Aditya Balsekar and Avery Tallakson sealed the doubles point with another commanding 6-1 victory over Lica Lemaitre and Lukas Maskow.
Before singles play began, the team took time to honor the family of Jack Kennedy, who passed away in 2023. Among those present were his wife of 63 years, Susan Kennedy, along with their sons, grandsons, nephews, and nieces. Kennedy was present for the inaugural Jack Kennedy Classic in 2023, making this tribute even more meaningful.
In singles, UNM continued its dominance. Dario Ciobotaru rebounded from a Friday loss with a clinical 6-2, 6-2 win, breaking serve five times. Tallakson extended his winning streak to five matches with a 6-2, 6-3 victory, giving UNM a 3-1 lead. The clincher came from Noroozian, who maintained UNM’s undefeated home streak at No. 1 singles since 2022 with a 6-3, 6-2 win over No. 104 Alexander Watanabe Eriksson.
Even with the match secured, the Lobos weren’t done. Daniil Kakhniuk battled back from a set down to win 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, while Samaha delivered a thrilling 10-5 tiebreak win in a marathon match against Bluett.
Next up, the Lobos hit the road for an in-state rivalry showdown against New Mexico State on Saturday at 3 p.m. in Las Cruces.
Lobos Open Home Slate with Convincing 5-2 Win Over Wichita State
After an exhausting stretch of road matches to start the season, the New Mexico Lobos finally returned home—and they made sure it was worth the wait.
In the opening round of the Jack Kennedy Classic, UNM cruised past Wichita State 5-2, showcasing dominance in doubles and a clinical approach in singles. The doubles point was never in doubt, as Noroozian and Samaha rebounded from early-season struggles with a swift 6-1 win. That momentum carried over to Balsekar and Tallakson, who sealed the point with a 6-2 victory.
Noroozian wasted no time in singles, crushing Kristof Minarik 6-1, 6-4 to give UNM an early edge. Tallakson and Kakhniuk followed suit with straight-set wins, pushing the Lobos to a 3-1 lead. The decisive moment came when Kakhniuk, up 5-4 in the second set, broke serve with a pinpoint passing shot, unleashing a roar that sent the 100-plus crowd into a frenzy.
Balsekar added the finishing touch, winning a 10-point tiebreak to claim UNM’s first No. 2 singles win of the season. Samaha’s third-set comeback fell short, but the Lobos had already locked in a commanding victory.
With their home opener secured, UNM now shifts focus to their rivalry clash with New Mexico State.
Lobos Earn First National Ranking of the Season
As rivalry week approaches, the New Mexico men’s tennis team has a new accolade to its name: a spot in the national rankings.
The Lobos debuted at No. 66 in the latest ITA men’s tennis rankings, marking their first ranking of the season after sweeping the Jack Kennedy Classic with wins over Wichita State and No. 67 Santa Clara. Meanwhile, the Broncos slipped to No. 72.
UNM (6-5) now stands as one of just two ranked Mountain West teams, alongside No. 38 Boise State (9-4). With momentum on their side, the Lobos look to add another tally in the win column when they take on in-state rival New Mexico State this Saturday at 3 p.m. in Las Cruces.
Falleur Cracks Top-10 as Lobos Finish Eighth at Lamkin Invitational
The New Mexico men’s golf team wrapped up competition at the Lamkin Invitational on Tuesday, finishing tied for eighth at 6-under after an even-par final round at San Diego Country Club.
San Diego State ran away with the title at 45-under, while San Diego and Colorado tied for second at 27-under. The Lobos shared eighth place with Loyola Marymount, capping off a competitive field.
Leading the way for UNM was Mesa Falleur, who notched his third top-10 finish of the season. Falleur rebounded from an even-par opening round to post back-to-back 69s, finishing at 8-under and tied for ninth. Wyatt Provence also finished under par at 1-under after a final-round 75.
Head coach Jake Harrington acknowledged the team’s struggles on the Poa Annua greens but praised Falleur’s resilience. “We need to focus on the process of hitting great shots instead of short-term results,” Harrington said. “That said, I’m really proud of Mesa’s fight to finish in ninth place.”
The Lobos will look to bounce back when they head to South Carolina for the Hootie at Bulls Bay from March 23-25.
Lobos Dominate Purple Classic with Shutout Victory Over Hawks
The Lobos wrapped up their weekend at the Purple Classic in dominant fashion, securing a 10-0 shutout victory over Saint Joseph’s in just five innings. Ella Dawson sealed the win with a pinch-hit, three-run homer in the bottom of the fifth.
New Mexico’s offense was relentless, tallying eight hits—five of which went for extra bases. DeNae Vasquez-Dickson, Miracle McKenzie, and Hayden Luderer each recorded two hits, while Dawson led the team with three RBIs. Three additional Lobos—Vasquez-Dickson, Luderer, and McKenzie—also drove in multiple runs.
Pitchers Lexi Atcitty and Caprice Barela combined for the shutout, with Atcitty starting and going four innings, allowing just three hits while striking out two. Barela closed out the game, giving up two hits in the fifth. The victory marked UNM’s sixth shutout of the season and second of the tournament—the most shutouts in a single season for the program since 2004.
The Lobos wasted no time getting on the board, capitalizing on an early walk and a fielder’s choice error to put runners in scoring position. McKenzie’s determined at-bat resulted in a two-run double to right-center, giving UNM an early lead. A flurry of fielding errors by the Hawks in the second allowed the Lobos to add to their lead, highlighted by back-to-back doubles from Archuleta and Vasquez-Dickson that plated three more runs.
The game-clinching moment came in the bottom of the fifth. McKenzie led off with a walk, followed by a Luderer single. A well-placed sacrifice bunt by Sydney Carithers moved both runners into scoring position. Dawson then stepped up and crushed a 2-1 pitch over the left-field fence, securing the run-rule victory.
With the win, the Lobos extended their streak to six consecutive victories and improved to 14-11-1 on the season. Impressively, seven of their 10 runs in the game came with two outs.
Lobos Extend Win Streak to Five with Back-to-Back Wins Over San Diego and Penn
The Lobos continued their hot streak on Friday with a pair of wins, defeating San Diego 2-0 and Penn 4-1, pushing their winning streak to five games. This marks only the second time in the last decade and the eighth time in the last 20 years that UNM has achieved such a streak.
Miracle McKenzie was instrumental in the team’s success, driving in three runs across both games. Jessica DeLeon and Ashley Archuleta also contributed RBIs. On the mound, Natalie Fritz and McKenna Guest each delivered complete-game performances, with Fritz tossing a shutout against San Diego and Guest limiting Penn to one run.
Game 1: UNM 2, San Diego 0
Fritz dominated the Toreros, earning her first shutout as a Lobo and UNM’s fifth of the season. She allowed just three hits while striking out four and retired the side in order in five consecutive innings.
The Lobos broke through in the second inning when DeLeon singled, McKenzie walked, and a sacrifice bunt advanced both runners. A hard-hit ball by Carithers forced an error, allowing the first run to score. UNM added an insurance run in the sixth when Vasquez-Dickson reached on an infield single, advanced to third on a wild pitch, and was driven in by McKenzie’s single.
Fritz closed out the game with a dominant seventh inning, securing the shutout victory.
Game 2: UNM 4, Penn 1
Penn struck first with a run in the opening frame, but the Lobos responded in the fourth with a solo home run from DeLeon. Guest and the defense kept Penn off the board for the remainder of the game, with Guest striking out six.
McKenzie provided the go-ahead runs in the sixth with a two-run homer to left field, giving UNM a 3-1 lead. The Lobos tacked on an insurance run in the seventh as Archuleta’s single up the middle brought home another run.
Despite a late threat from Penn, Guest secured the win with a strikeout and a game-ending lineout to right field.
Guest and Fritz Earn Mountain West Weekly Honors
After a dominant showing at the Purple Classic, the Lobos earned two Mountain West Conference honors: McKenna Guest was named Pitcher of the Week, and Natalie Fritz received Freshman of the Week recognition.
Guest went 2-0 on the weekend, boasting a 0.64 ERA while striking out 13 batters over 11 innings. She was instrumental in two of UNM’s four wins, including a complete-game victory over Penn.
Fritz, meanwhile, secured her first collegiate shutout against San Diego and recorded a save against Saint Joseph’s. Over 10 innings, she allowed just one walk while striking out six, finishing with an impressive 0.70 ERA.
Gomez Narrowly Misses NCAA Qualification, Places 12th in Platform Dive
Isabella Gomez came heartbreakingly close to becoming the first UNM diver in 12 years to qualify for the NCAA Championships, finishing 12th in the platform dive at the NCAA Zone E Championships—just 7.95 points shy of advancing.
Gomez, who placed eighth in the preliminaries, executed dives from multiple heights but was ultimately edged out in the finals. Despite the near miss, her 12th-place finish is the best for a UNM diver on the platform since 2013.
Fellow Lobo Arianna Pelligra also competed, finishing 38th. Both divers will compete in the 1-meter event on Wednesday.
Gomez Secures 15th-Place Finish in NCAA Zones 3M Event
Isabella Gomez delivered a strong performance in her first NCAA postseason appearance, placing 15th in the 3-meter springboard event at the NCAA Zone E Championships.
Scoring 548.20 over 12 dives, Gomez consistently performed across both rounds, finishing 15th out of 51 divers in the prelims and maintaining her position in the finals. Though only the top eight advanced to the NCAA Championships, Gomez’s showing marks an impressive debut at the national level.
Gomez and Pelligra will look to make an impact in the platform dive event, where the top nine will qualify for the NCAA Championships. Gomez recently placed third in the Mountain West in that event.
