It was a week defined by dominance, resilience, and historic moments across University of New Mexico athletics. From baseball’s unbeaten start and offensive explosion to milestone wins on the hardwood, clutch performances on the road, and postseason progress in the pool, the Lobos continued to build momentum across nearly every major program.
Baseball: Unbeaten Start Reaches Historic Territory
The scorching start for New Mexico Lobos baseball only got hotter.
Run-Rule Power to Open Series
New Mexico improved to 5-0 with a 16-5 seven-inning victory over Northern Colorado, its fourth straight run-rule win. The Lobos launched four home runs and drew 11 walks, continuing a remarkable trend — they have scored at least 10 runs in every game this season.
Luke Mansy delivered a career day, going 3-for-4 with two home runs and four RBI. Aidan Kuni added a two-run shot and drove in five, while Khalil Walker reached base four times, scored four runs and drove in four.
Cristian Mogen earned his first win of the year, and Ty Cunningham recorded his 11th career save, moving into sixth place on the program’s all-time list.
Pitching, Clutch Hits Fuel Doubleheader Sweep
Saturday brought a different formula — but the same result. The Lobos improved to 7-0 with a 6-0 shutout followed by a 6-5 win.
Ryan Castillo and Josh Barnhouse combined on a three-hit shutout in Game 1, while Game 2 required late execution, highlighted by Mansy’s third home run of the weekend and a key Khalil Walker triple.
Across the twin bill, the pitching staff posted a 2.50 ERA over 18 innings.
Dramatic Comeback Completes Sweep
Sunday produced the most dramatic moment yet.
Trailing 8-1 early and 11-8 in the ninth, New Mexico rallied to tie the game before Anthony Diaz delivered a walk-off double in the 10th for a 12-11 win. Tommy White was equally critical, tossing five innings of two-run relief to earn the victory.
The 8-0 start is the program’s best since 1973. The Lobos now hold the fourth-longest active winning streak in Division I and are one of just 18 remaining unbeaten teams.
Walker Earns Conference Honor
For his efforts, Khalil Walker was named Mountain West Player of the Week after hitting .636 with a 1.915 OPS. His two-out, ninth-inning RBI single in Sunday’s finale forced extra innings and set up the walk-off win.
Women’s Basketball: Road Heroics and Defensive Dominance
The New Mexico Lobos women’s basketball delivered two impressive wins to move to 18-9 (10-6 MW).
Buzzer-Beater Stuns Grand Canyon
Alyssa Hargrove opened the game with a three — and ended it with a buzzer-beating alley-oop finish to lift the Lobos to a 70-68 road win over Grand Canyon Antelopes.
Joana Magalhães led with 15 points and five assists, while Emma Najjuma posted her first Lobo double-double (12 points, 12 rebounds). UNM dominated the glass 39-27 and held advantages in second-chance points and paint scoring.
The victory marked the program’s sixth straight season with double-digit conference wins under head coach Mike Bradbury.
Season Sweep of Air Force
New Mexico followed with a 73-53 win over Air Force Falcons women’s basketball, holding the Falcons to single digits in two quarters and outscoring them 18-6 in the third.
Destinee Hooks and Nayli Padilla scored 12 each, while Jessie Joaquim recorded a double-double with 13 rebounds. The Lobos dominated the boards 47-32 and shot 48.3% from the field.
Men’s Basketball: Historic Comeback and Milestone Wins
The New Mexico Lobos men’s basketball reached new heights with two statement victories.
20 Wins Secured in Rout
New Mexico rolled past Air Force Falcons men’s basketball 98-61 at The Pit, marking the program’s fourth straight 20-win season.
Antonio Chol scored a career-high 20 points, while Jake Hall added 16. The Lobos hit 15 three-pointers and shot nearly 68% in the first half.
Largest Comeback in Program History
The weekend brought history on the road.
Trailing by 22 in the first half, the Lobos stormed back to defeat Fresno State Bulldogs men’s basketball 80-78 — the largest comeback in school history. Deyton Albury scored 21 points and Jake Hall added 20, including a clutch late jumper.
Hall’s performance earned him his fourth Mountain West Freshman of the Week honor, the most in the conference this season.
Softball: Offensive Explosion at Abilene Christian
The New Mexico Lobos softball showcased its offensive potential during a series at Abilene Christian Wildcats softball.
After splitting Friday’s doubleheader, the Lobos exploded for a season-high 20 hits in a 13-7 win — their most hits in a game since 2018.
Gabrielle Briones (5-for-6), Allie Williams (5-for-8), and Jessica DeLeon (5-for-9) led the surge.
The offense carried into Saturday, when Miracle McKenzie hit two home runs and drove in five to power a 9-1 run-rule victory. Freshman Caitlin Benningfield threw her first complete game, striking out eight.
Tennis: Clutch Performances Lead Women’s Team
The New Mexico Lobos women’s tennis improved to 7-2 with back-to-back wins.
Vianca Corley delivered the clinching singles victory in both matches — first in a 4-1 win over New Mexico State Aggies women’s tennis, then again in a 4-3 victory over Northern Arizona Lumberjacks women’s tennis. She went 3-0 on the week and has now secured consecutive match-clinching points.
Meanwhile, the New Mexico Lobos men’s tennis fell 6-1 to No. 40 Santa Clara Broncos men’s tennis, with Dario Ciobotaru earning the lone point at No. 1 singles.
Swimming & Diving: Progress and Records at Mountain West Championships
At the Mountain West Swimming & Diving Championships, the Lobos recorded 17 personal records and multiple Top-10 program performances.
Alice English finished 13th in the platform to lead the team in points, while Arianna Stokes earned UNM’s first B-final appearance of the meet. The 400 free relay also posted a Top-10 program time.
English and Esme Abbadi-Macintosh will next compete at the NCAA Diving Zone Championships in Flagstaff.
The Big Picture
Across multiple programs, the week reflected a department-wide surge:
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Baseball: 8-0 start, best since 1973
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Men’s Basketball: 21 wins and a historic comeback
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Women’s Basketball: Double-digit conference wins for the sixth straight year
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Softball: Offensive breakout performances
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Tennis and Swimming: Clutch wins and postseason progress
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