It was a valiant final push in the desert, but the New Mexico Lobos’ baseball season came to a close Wednesday at Sloan Park as a late-inning rally fell just short in a 6–3 loss to San Jose State in the Mountain West Championship opener.
With the tying run at the plate in both the eighth and ninth innings, the Lobos refused to go quietly, launching a pair of home runs to match a historic milestone in program history—92 and 93 bombs on the season, tying the 2003 squad for most in a single year. Yet the Spartans’ early-inning surge proved too much to overcome.
Josh McAlister opened the scoring with a solo shot in the second inning—his 17th of the year—before Ethan Ott added another in the fifth, bringing UNM within two. Despite outhitting the Spartans 9-8 and multi-hit nights from Will Asby, Khalil Walker, and Karsen Waslefsky, the Lobos couldn’t scratch out enough late-game magic to extend their stay in Mesa.
Starter Daxton Purser was nearly flawless through three innings, retiring the first six batters in order and finishing with four unearned runs over 3.2 IP. The bullpen trio of Barnhouse, White, and Wiseman held SJSU to just two runs over the final five innings, giving New Mexico a fighting chance deep into the night.
The Lobos finish the 2025 campaign at 30–23 (17–13 MWC)—their best record since 2017 and the third straight season of increased win totals and win percentage under head coach Tod Brown.
Lobos Golf Wraps Season at NCAA Championship
Meanwhile, the UNM men’s golf team saw its season end at the NCAA Championship in Carlsbad, California, where the team placed 26th after three rounds at the North Course at Omni La Costa Resort & Spa.
Sophomore Wyatt Provence led the Lobos with back-to-back rounds of 72 to finish 9-over after a tough opening round of 82. His Sunday 72 was one of the team’s bright spots, while senior Carson Herron closed out his collegiate career with a 1-over 73—his best round ever at La Costa.
Despite missing the cut for the fourth round by 19 strokes, head coach Jake Harrington praised his squad’s resilience. “To make it here three years in a row shows how much our program has grown,” said Harrington. “Our guys fought to the end. We just couldn’t find that elusive fourth score we needed each day.”
UNM was one of only 12 programs in the nation to qualify for nationals each of the last three seasons.
Lobos Track & Field Sends 27 to NCAA West Regionals
The postseason party isn’t over yet for the Lobos. Twenty-seven New Mexico track and field athletes are heading to College Station, Texas, for this week’s NCAA West Regional preliminaries—UNM’s second-largest contingent ever and the biggest since 2011.
After a year that’s already seen the Lobos notch top-10 team finishes in cross country and top-30 rankings in indoor track, expectations are sky-high. The men’s and women’s squads now aim to punch as many tickets as possible to the NCAA Outdoor Championships in Eugene.
Leading the charge will be defending national champion Habtom Samuel, who won last year’s 10,000m final in dramatic fashion. But this time, Samuel won’t be going alone. With both depth and star power, the Lobos are poised to make noise on the national stage.
Competition runs from May 28 to May 31 at Texas A&M and will stream live on ESPN+. Follow all the action at GoLobos.com/FollowTrack and @UNMLoboXCTF on social.
Three Lobos Named to Academic All-District Softball Team
While the Lobos battled on the diamond, three members of UNM’s softball squad were honored for excellence in the classroom as well. Sydney Carithers, Hayden Luderer, and Lexi Atcitty were named to the CSC Academic All-District® Team on Tuesday, a testament to the program’s commitment to academic achievement.
Carithers, a recent master’s graduate in physical education, capped her Lobo career with a 3.90 GPA and her most productive season at the plate—setting career highs in virtually every offensive category. The Fort Worth native earned her second consecutive academic all-district nod.
Luderer posted a 3.55 GPA in psychology and broke out in her sophomore season with career bests across the board, including her first collegiate home runs. Atcitty, a redshirt sophomore in liberal arts with a 3.90 GPA, earned her first collegiate win in the circle this season and pitched in 16 games for the Lobos.
Together, the trio represents the heart of what it means to be a student-athlete at New Mexico—balancing books and bats with equal excellence.
Portuguese Pipeline Continues: Lobos Ink International Forward Leonor Peixinho
The New Mexico women’s basketball program is going global once again — and they’re heading back to Portugal to do it.
Head coach Mike Bradbury officially announced the signing of 6-foot-1 forward Leonor Peixinho, the Lobos’ third addition to the 2025-26 class. The Lagoa, Portugal native brings a dynamic international résumé and becomes the second Portuguese player on the current roster, joining sophomore Joana Magalhães.
“We’ve built something special here — a team with talent from all over the world,” Bradbury said. “Leonor is another versatile, high-upside player who fits that mold. I’m thrilled about what she brings to the court and to the locker room.”
Peixinho spent the last two seasons developing her game with SL Benfica, one of Portugal’s top-tier clubs, competing in the 2025 EuroCup and winning back-to-back Senior Championships. During EuroCup play, she logged averages of 2.8 points, 1.2 rebounds, and 0.8 assists per game — showcasing flashes of the skillset that also made her a key player in Portugal’s youth national system.
On the international stage, Peixinho’s stock rose during the 2024 FIBA U18 Women’s EuroBasket, where she averaged 6.7 points, 3.0 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 20 minutes per game. She saved her best for the quarterfinals, exploding for 20 points, 6 boards, and 4 assists against Israel as Portugal secured a fifth-place finish. She also saw action in the FIBA U20 EuroBasket and was a force for the U16 national team back in 2022.
Off the court, Peixinho cited the academic and cultural environment at UNM as major factors in her decision.
“UNM offers the perfect blend of academic excellence, cultural richness, and a strong sense of community,” she said. “I see it not just as a place to earn a degree, but as a community where I can grow intellectually, culturally, and personally.”
Peixinho joins fellow international signees Jessie Joaquim and Cacia Antonio as part of a globally diverse recruiting class that continues to bolster New Mexico’s forward depth and future potential.
UNM Soccer Drops 2025 Schedule Featuring FSU Showdown, 10 Home Matches
Clear your calendars, Lobo fans — the 2025 women’s soccer schedule is here, and it’s loaded with marquee matchups, home action, and a special return to roots for head coach Heather Dyche.
New Mexico’s 20-match slate features 10 home games, including a high-profile visit from four-time national champion Florida State on Aug. 21. It’s a full-circle moment for Dyche, who earned both her undergraduate and graduate degrees from FSU.
The season kicks off in Albuquerque with a preseason clash vs. UTEP on Aug. 7, followed by the official opener on Aug. 14 against Texas Southern, a first-time opponent. Another inaugural matchup awaits on the road against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on Aug. 17.
Then comes the spotlight: Dyche’s alma mater, Florida State, makes a rare trip west to take on the Lobos under the lights — a must-watch contest early in the season.
After that, it’s off to the Pacific Northwest, where UNM will close out August with road dates at Oregon (Aug. 28) and Oregon State (Aug. 31). The Lobos beat Oregon 3-1 last season in their first-ever meeting and haven’t visited Corvallis since 2019.
September features a key in-state showdown with New Mexico State (Sept. 7) at home, followed by final non-conference tests at UC Santa Barbara (Sept. 11) and Cal State Fullerton (Sept. 14) — the first trip to Fullerton since 2009.
Mountain West play begins at home with back-to-back matches against Colorado College (Sept. 25) and Air Force (Sept. 28), then launches into a rugged four-game road swing: San José State (Oct. 2), Fresno State (Oct. 5), Nevada (Oct. 9), and UNLV (Oct. 12).
The Lobos return to Albuquerque for their longest homestand of the year, facing Utah State (Oct. 16), Boise State (Oct. 19), Wyoming (Oct. 23), and Colorado State (Oct. 26). The regular season wraps on the road against San Diego State (Oct. 30) before the Mountain West Tournament (Nov. 2-8) kicks off in Boise, Idaho.
The Lobos bring back 18 players from last season and have reloaded with 10 new faces, forming a deep and balanced roster of 13 underclassmen and 15 upperclassmen.
It’s a mix of experience, new energy, and ambition — and with a top-tier home slate, the 2025 Lobos are ready to make a statement in the Mountain West and beyond.
