FROM CBB NEWS SOURCE
University of New Mexico head baseball coach Ray Birmingham has announced the 2011 Lobo baseball schedule. The team will take on some of the best college teams in the nation, including 2010 College World Series participants Arizona State, Oklahoma and TCU. The Lobos are scheduled to play 24 games at Isotope Park.
“As we march toward Omaha, Lobo baseball will take another giant leap into the `shark-infested waters’ with a schedule that rivals any team schedule in the country,” said Birmingham.
“Our 2011 schedule will include 14 games against teams that were playing in Omaha last June. Add to that Arizona, Oklahoma State, Texas Tech, Gonzaga and Creighton, and it looks like a schedule from Major League Baseball. I believe in this team and it is talented, only young.”
The Lobos open up their season with a four-game series in Tempe, Ariz. UNM will play the reigning Pac 10 champions Arizona State on Feb.18-20. The Sun Devils were the No. 1 overall seed in the 2010 NCAA Tournament, losing to eventual national champion South Carolina in Omaha last year at the College World Series.
New Mexico comes back to the Land of Enchantment for a four-game series against Creighton on Feb. 25-27. The Bluejays, a member of the Missouri Valley Conference, will return to Albuquerque for the first time since 1981. The Lobos own a 10-3 series record against Creighton.
On March 1 the Lobos head south to face Rio Grande Rival New Mexico State in the first of a two-game, home-and-home series. The Aggies will come up to Albuquerque one week later for a 6 p.m. game on March 8. The Lobos hold a 150-77 series lead over NMSU.
In between games with the Aggies, the Lobos will take on the University of Texas-San Antonio at Isotopes Park on March 4-6. The four-game series will be the first time meeting the Roadrunners on the baseball diamond.
The Lobos will start Spring Break with a three-game series at Oklahoma State. UNM will face the Big 12 baseball powerhouse on March 11-13 in Stillwater. It will be the first time the two teams have met on the diamond since 1997.
Mountain West Conference play begins on March 18-20 against San Diego State in sunny California. The Aztecs finished up 28-28 overall and 13-11 in the MWC.
The Lobos will take a break from conference play to host Binghamton. The Bearcats will make a return trip on March 22-23 after making their first visit in 2009.
UNLV comes to Albuquerque, March 25-27 for the first of two series with the Lobos in 2011. UNM will make the return trip to Las Vegas April 29-May 1. After the first UNLV series the Lobos go on the road for eight games starting in Tucson, March 29-30 against Arizona. From there UNM heads to Spokane, Washington to face Gonzaga in a three-game series, April 1-3.
The Lobos wrap the trip at MWC champion TCU on April 8-10. The nationally-ranked Horned Frogs will return the favor in the last regular season weekend, May 19-21 in Albuquerque.
On April 12-13 the Lobos host Texas Tech in the first of two mid-week series with the Red Raiders. UNM will travel to Lubbock on April 26-27. In between the Texas Tech series, the Lobos will play two Mountain West Conference teams, Utah at home April 15-17 and at BYU April 21-23.
The first full weekend of May will feature the Lobos vs. Air Force on May 6-8. Sunday’s game against the Falcons will take place at Lobo Field. UNM will take one final regular season road trip to 2010 College World Series participant Oklahoma, May 13-15. The Lobos will play a four-game series in Norman.
The MWC Tournament will be May 24-28 at Tony Gwynn Stadium in San Diego, Calif. for the second year in a row.
New Mexico finished the 2010 season with a 38-22 record overall and made its first NCAA appearance since 1962. Head coach Ray Birmingham is in his fourth season with the Lobos.
