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UNM baseball coach Ray Birmingham stands at Lobo Field in 2009. Birmingham, who announced his retirement earlier this season, will coach his final three games Friday and Saturday.
JOURNAL FILE/MARLA BROSE
As final homestands go, this one promises to be memorable.
The University of New Mexico baseball team will hold a final send-off for coach Ray Birmingham and 15 seniors this weekend with a season-ending three-game series against San Diego State.
The Lobos and Aztecs will play a Friday doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m., then wrap up the series with a noon contest Saturday at Santa Ana Star Field. The latter game will be senior day and the final game for Birmingham, who has announced his retirement effective at season’s end.
Lobos Pound Utah Valley 16-2
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. Justin Armbruester’s afternoon was pretty stellar, walking across the stage, diploma in hand after graduating from The University of New Mexico.
His evening was pretty special as well.
Armbruester looked every bit of the ace that he is, shutting down Utah Valley over seven scoreless innings, allowing just three hits while striking out nine. He received plenty of offense in the form on 16 runs on 15 hits as New Mexico clinched a weekend series over Utah Valley with a 16-2 drubbing. UNM will go for the sweep tomorrow at high noon at Santa Ana Star Field.
USAFA, Colo. Despite posting 16 runs on 22 hits through two games, The University of New Mexico baseball team was edged out twice by Air Force in a doubleheader on Saturday. In game one, the Lobos (9-22, 6-14 MW) kept it close with the Falcons (19-18, 11-12) and led the game through two innings before dropping 4-6. The Lobos played catchup in game two but made it a three-run game in the ninth inning, but the comeback was not enough as they fell 12-15.
“In game one, our defense killed us,” said head coach Ray Birmingham. “Then, in game two, our pitching was poor.”