Lobo Round-Up: Lobos Set for Mountain West Tournament Opener vs. San Jose State

Lobo Round-Up: Lobos Set for Mountain West Tournament Opener vs. San Jose State

The postseason is here, and the New Mexico Lobos are ready to chase history.

UNM enters the 2025 Mountain West Baseball Championship as the No. 3 seed, squaring off against No. 6 seed San Jose State in a do-or-die opening-round matchup on Wednesday at Sloan Park in Mesa, Arizona. First pitch marks the beginning of a crucial tournament run, as the Lobos look to capture their first MW title — and secure an NCAA Tournament berth — for the first time since 2016.

The Lobos finished the regular season third in the Mountain West standings with a 17-13 conference record, mirroring last year’s campaign. They wrapped up the year with a thrilling 12-10 Senior Day win over Fresno State after dropping two nail-biters to start the weekend (5-7, 10-11 in 11 innings).

New Mexico is making back-to-back tournament appearances after a six-year absence from the postseason. The last time they lifted the trophy? 2016 — when they swept through the bracket on their home field en route to the NCAA Tournament.


Offensive Powerhouse: Lobos Among NCAA Leaders

UNM enters the postseason with one of the most dangerous offenses in all of college baseball. The Lobos lead the nation in batting average (.339) and doubles (148 total, 2.85 per game), maintaining that spot for three straight weeks.

They also rank:

  • 2nd in total hits (640)
  • 3rd in slugging percentage (.576)
  • 7th in scoring (9.4 runs/game)
  • 9th in total runs (487)
  • 13th in on-base percentage (.427)
  • T-17th in home runs per game (1.75)

Even in more nuanced metrics, the Lobos are holding their own:

  • T-62nd in triples per game (0.27)
  • 93rd in total walks (260)
  • T-98th in double plays per game (0.73)
  • 95th in fielding percentage (.973)

With stats like these, the Lobos are not just contenders — they’re a threat to any team standing between them and a trip to the NCAA Regionals.

Fans can stream every pitch of the Mountain West Tournament live and free via the MW Network at GoLobos.com/Watch. Full game day coverage, including stats and streaming links, is available at GoLobos.com/BSBGameDay. Stay connected with @UNMLoboBaseball across all social media platforms for updates, behind-the-scenes access, and more.


Six Lobos Earn All-Mountain West Honors

The Mountain West announced its 2025 All-Conference selections on Tuesday, and six Lobos made the cut — the program’s most since 2013.

First Team All-MW:

  • OF Khalil Walker
  • INF Josh McAlister
  • 1B Ethan Ott

Second Team All-MW:

  • RHP Daxton Purser
  • OF Jordy Oriach
  • OF Will Asby

Walker and Asby both earn All-MW honors for the second straight season, with Walker elevating to the first team after leading the conference in batting average. Purser’s nod marks the first time a Lobo pitcher has made the All-MW list since 2021 (Justin Armbruester).

The awards come in a historic offensive season for the Lobos, who crossed the 30-win threshold (30-27-1) for the first time since 2017 under former head coach Ray Birmingham.


Lobo Golf Punches NCAA Championship Ticket with Third-Place Regional Finish

The New Mexico men’s golf team is headed back to the NCAA Championship.

UNM clinched a spot at the national finals for the third consecutive season with a clutch final-round performance at the NCAA Tallahassee Regional. The Lobos fired a tournament-best 12-under final round, vaulting into third place at 14-under overall to earn one of five qualifying spots.

The championship stage is set for May 23–28 at OMNI La Costa Resort & Spa in Carlsbad, California. The 30-team field will feature the top five squads from each of the six regional sites.

Joining New Mexico out of Tallahassee are Florida State (regional champs at -29), Ole Miss (-20), Georgia (-7), and Augusta (-3).

Head coach Jake Harrington praised his team’s resilience:

“They accepted the challenge. We needed the entire team today. Clark kept us in it the first two days. Carson and Mesa were incredible today. This is what it’s all about.”

UNM’s final-round surge was powered by Carson Herron and Mesa Falleur, each shooting 4-under 68. Herron led the team individually, finishing T-11th at 3-under. Wyatt Provence (T-16th, -2) and Oliver Cage (71) also contributed to the red-hot round.


Tournament Format – NCAA Golf Championship

  • May 23–25: First three rounds of stroke play (30 teams)
  • May 26: Top 15 teams play final round of stroke play
  • May 27–28: Top 8 teams advance to match play; national champ crowned

Golf Channel will carry live coverage of the final three days.


Men’s Tennis Reloads with Experienced Transfer

Following a Mountain West Tournament championship in his debut season, head coach Rob Bareford continues to build a championship-caliber tennis roster with the addition of Jakub Prachar for the 2025–26 season.

Prachar, a transfer from Northern Arizona, is no stranger to the Lobos. He’s faced UNM three times in singles over the past two seasons and brings a competitive edge — and winning record — to the program.

Prachar’s Career Highlights at NAU:

  • 29-13 singles record
  • 30-14 doubles record
  • 14-8 in singles in 2024 (6-1 at No. 2 spot)
  • 13-7 in doubles, nearly all at No. 1
  • First Team All-Big Sky in doubles as a freshman
  • Owns a 12.01 UTR, signaling elite potential

He joins fellow transfers Tyler Waddock (Eastern Washington), Jan Skerbatis (Valdosta State), and Alberto Perez (Eastern Florida State) as part of a revamped Lobo squad aiming to build on a 16-9 season and a No. 62 national ITA ranking.


Lobos Capture First-Ever MW Women’s Outdoor Track & Field Championship

The University of New Mexico women’s track & field team etched their names into the record books on Saturday night, capturing their first-ever Mountain West Outdoor Championship in program history with a dominant, all-around performance in Clovis, Calif. The Lobos capped the historic title with a powerful 1-2 punch—scoring 30 points in the 5,000-meter final and following it up with a clutch victory in the 4×400-meter relay, securing the 2024-25 MW Women’s Outdoor Team Championship.

New Mexico finished the meet with 153 points, completing a rare MW triple crown by winning the cross country, indoor track, and outdoor track titles in the same academic year.

A Night to Remember

The Lobo women entered the final stretch of competition in a tight battle with Colorado State, but left no doubt in the closing events. In the 5,000-meter final, UNM surged to a massive 30-point haul, creating critical separation. Then, in a high-stakes finale, the Lobos’ 4×400-meter relay squad sealed the championship with authority, clocking a 3:35.54 to win by nearly two seconds over the Rams.

With the final baton pass, history was made.

Gauson, Kosgei Honored for Elite Performances

Head coach Darren Gauson was named MW Women’s Coach of the Year for the third time this season—a fitting tribute after guiding the women’s program to an unprecedented sweep across all three major disciplines.

On the men’s side, distance standout Mathew Kosgei earned MW Men’s Track Performer of the Meet after a sensational two-day stretch. Kosgei obliterated the conference steeplechase record on Friday with a jaw-dropping 8:25.56—a time that will resonate across the national leaderboard—and returned Saturday night to finish fourth in the 5,000m (13:39.35), helping boost the Lobos’ final score.

Lobo Men Fall Just Short but Make Statement

Though the Lobo men came up just short of their own title, their effort was nothing short of electric. They posted 171.50 team points, the program’s highest total at an outdoor MW championship since 2011, finishing a close second behind Colorado State.

New Mexico scored a staggering 30 points in the men’s 5,000-meter thanks to a deep, talented lineup that shattered the previous MW meet record (13:46.67 set in 2021). Ishmael Kipkurui (1st, 13:26.84) and Habtom Samuel (2nd, 13:30.49) led the charge, with Kosgei, Collins Kiprotich (5th, 13:40.93), and Vincent Chirchir (7th, 13:32.09) all crossing under the former meet standard.

In the night’s final event, the Lobos held off CSU in the 4x400m relay to preserve their second-place team finish in a thrilling finale.


Up Next: Many of UNM’s top performers are expected to compete in the NCAA West Preliminary Rounds, with a chance to punch their tickets to the NCAA Outdoor Championships in Eugene, Oregon. Stay tuned for qualifiers and meet previews right here on LoboSportsHub.com.