by
Frank Mercogliano
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – The 1980s was a seminal time for Lobo baseball. The 1985 team earned the first national rankings in the programs’ history, climbing to as high as No. 14 in the polls. Only one man was at the helm through the 1980s, Vince Cappelli, and he twice led UNM to 40+ wins in a season.
The 1980 squad went 41-22 and the 1985 squad topped it by going 42-17. Most of Cappelli’s 384 wins, which is third all-time at UNM, came in the 1980s.
The 1980s also saw Cappelli win WAC Coach of the Year honors in 1985, as well as 17 players earn All-WAC honors, four All-Americans and 15 draft choices including five in 1985.