Lobos’ Rally Falls Just Short in Mountain West Championship Playoff
The University of New Mexico men’s golf team nearly authored one of the most memorable comebacks in Mountain West Championship history, charging up the leaderboard on the final day before falling in a one-hole playoff to UNLV at OMNI Tucson National.
Starting the final round eight shots back in fifth place, the Lobos surged with a remarkable 20-under team performance to finish at 3-under overall, tying UNLV at 825—marking the third-lowest 54-hole total in tournament history. The Rebels ultimately secured the title in the playoff, while San Diego State (35-under), Grand Canyon (31-under), and Wyoming (30-under) rounded out the top five.
Wyatt Provence fueled the comeback effort with a dazzling 7-under 65, highlighted by six birdies on the back nine. He finished tied for eighth at 9-under. Johnnie Clark led the Lobos individually, tying for fourth at 12-under after posting his second consecutive 6-under 66. Thayer Plewe joined Provence in a tie for eighth at 9-under following a 5-under 67, while Emil Albers finished tied for 12th at 8-under. Clark Sonnenberg completed the lineup at even par.
“I am really proud of how the guys competed today,” said head coach Jake Harrington. “To shoot 20-under par took a lot from everyone. It says a lot about the depth of our team to have four guys in the top 12.”
The Lobos now await their NCAA Regional destination, which will be announced Wednesday during the NCAA Selection Show.
Lobos Clinch MW Tournament Berth with Offensive Explosion
New Mexico softball punched its ticket to the Mountain West Championship with a 12-6 win over Utah State, powered by a dominant offensive showing that included eight runs in the first two innings and three home runs.
The Lobos totaled 11 hits and drew a season-high nine walks, improving to 13-0 in games with multiple home runs this season. DeNae Vasquez-Dickson led the way, going 3-for-5 with a double and a home run. Allie Williams reached base four times, including a two-run homer, while Jessica DeLeon added a double, a home run, and a team-high three RBI.
In the circle, McKenna Guest started before Caitlin Benningfield closed the game with six strikeouts across 3.1 innings to earn her 10th win of the season.
Run-Rule Victory Secures Series Win
The Lobos carried their offensive momentum into Friday, defeating Utah State 11-3 in five innings to clinch the series. It marked UNM’s first run-rule win over the Aggies since 2015.
New Mexico racked up 15 hits, with Melanie Macias and Jessica DeLeon each collecting three hits. Ella Dawson added a double and three RBI as the Lobos scored five runs in the opening inning and never looked back.
Caitlin Benningfield picked up her second win of the series, while Arianna Capek earned the save with 1.2 scoreless innings.
Lobos Complete Sweep Behind Luderer’s Clutch Play
The Lobos capped the weekend with a 3-1 victory on Saturday to complete the sweep and finish Mountain West play at 13-12—the program’s most conference wins since 2015.
Hayden Luderer starred on both sides of the ball, robbing a home run in the fourth inning and adding a solo shot in the sixth. She finished 2-for-3, while DeNae Vasquez-Dickson also recorded two hits.
Arianna Capek delivered key relief innings before Caitlin Benningfield closed the game with a strikeout to secure the save.
Capek Earns Mountain West Freshman of the Week
Following her standout performances, freshman pitcher Arianna Capek was named Mountain West Freshman of the Week. She threw 3.1 scoreless innings across two appearances, allowing just one hit while striking out five.
Capek becomes the fourth Lobo to earn a weekly conference honor this season.
Academic Excellence Continues for UNM Athletics
The NCAA’s latest Academic Progress Rate (APR) report highlighted continued academic success for New Mexico athletics, with a department-record score of 993. All 16 programs surpassed the required 930 benchmark, with four programs earning perfect four-year scores.
Nine programs also achieved a perfect 1000 single-year APR for 2024-25, underscoring the department’s commitment to academic achievement.
Women’s Basketball Adds Staff and Talent
Head coach Amy Eagan announced the addition of Cydney McHenry as director of operations and assistant coach. McHenry arrives after three seasons at Weber State.
The Lobos also welcomed nine new players to the 2026-27 roster, including a mix of freshmen and transfers expected to bolster both the backcourt and frontcourt.
Track & Field Sets Records Ahead of Championships
New Mexico track & field closed its regular season with a strong showing at the Desert Heat Classic and Payton Jordan Invitational, recording 14 personal bests and three program records.
Eva Ngom set a new school record in the 400m (51.83), becoming the first Lobo to break 52 seconds. Taniya Looney improved her 100m record (11.18), and Ajia Hughes broke the high jump record with a clearance of 1.83m.
The trio swept Mountain West weekly honors, highlighting a dominant weekend for the Lobos.
Baseball Splits Series with Air Force
New Mexico baseball opened its series against first-place Air Force with a 9-7 win, powered by an 18-hit performance. Akili Carris led the offense, going 4-for-5 with a double and a triple.
However, the Lobos dropped the final two games of the series, falling 11-1 on Saturday and 8-4 on Senior Day. Despite solid offensive efforts, early deficits proved too much to overcome.
UNM now sits at 26-20-1 overall and 11-9-1 in Mountain West play as the regular season winds down.
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