This weekend the University of New Mexico will host the Mountain West Conference Baseball Tournament after the Lobos (29-25, 19-9-1) won their finale against Nevada, and a loss by SDSU won the Regular Season Title for the Lobos, and the right to host the Tournament. The Lobos who won the Tournament last year (also as host), will look to make it two years in a row as host and winner of the Tournament. The Lobos have struggled down the stretch going 3-6 in the final three series. The good and bad thing for all four of the teams competing in the Tournament, the only way to make the NCAA Tournament is to win the MW auto-bid. It should be a great tournament this weekend with many twist and turns.

The Field:
1. UNM 29-25-1, 19-9-1
2. SDSU 38-18, 20-10
3. FSU 32-23, 18-12
4. Nevada 19-34, 13-16
The Tournament is a four-team double elimination tournament, mean that the champion will have to win 3 (must win first 2 games) or 4 games, over 3 or 4 days (depending on if the if necessary game is played). With these four teams, it is hard to see a team dropping their first game of the tournament, to come back through the loser’s bracket winning 4 straight to earn the auto-bid. As we saw in the Regional last year winning this first two games of the tournament gives you great odds to win the tournament, whichever team wins the first two game in this tournament will most likely win the tournament.
Lobos Outlook:
During the early part of the conference season it looked like the Lobos would win the conference going away, and up to Jack Zoellner getting hit by a pitch in the first inning of the sixth to last conference game it looked like there wouldn’t be any doubt on who would host the tournament. With the loss of Zoellner and a slew of other things happening the Lobos didn’t clinch the crown until the last pitch of the conference season. The Lobos have the advantage of hosting the tournament and the ability to save their best starting pitcher for the possible winners-bracket matchup between either SDSU or FSU, but I expect Tyler Stevens to pitch the opener against Nevada. If the Lobos can save pitching in the first game and win the game against Nevada the Lobos have a good chance of winning the tournament. Where the Lobos could run into trouble is if they lose their first game, the Lobos would have to piece together a lot of innings on the mound and must out slug the other three teams.
During the season the Lobos went 2-1 at SDSU (lone series this season), 2-4 against FSU, and 1-2 verses Nevada (lone series this season). The Lobos were 5-7 against the three teams, but the Lobos have the talent to win the Tournament so this record shouldn’t sway your opinion that they can’t win this weekend.
First Round Predictions:
• SDSU over FSU in a close game that should come down to the last couple of innings.
• UNM over Nevada in a game the Lobos win by more than 4 runs.
Tournament Odds:
UNM: 34%
SDSU: 26%
FSU: 26%
Nevada: 14%
Tournament Schedule:
Thursday:
• Game 1: #2 SDSU vs. #3 FSU 3 P.M.
• Game 2: #1 UNM vs. #4 Nevada 7 P.M.
Friday:
• Game 3: Loser of game 1 vs. loser of game 2 (Elimination Game) 3 P.M.
• Game 4: Winner of game 1 vs. winner of game 2. 7 P.M.
Saturday:
• Game 5: Winner of game 3 vs. loser of game 4 (Elimination Game) 1 P.M.
• Game 6: Winner of game 5 vs. Winner of game 4 (Championship Game if Winner of game 4 wins) 5 P.M.
Sunday:
• Game 7 (If necessary): Winner of game 6 vs. loser of game 6. 1 P.M.
Tournament Info:
Who: UNM, SDSU, FSU and Nevada
When: May 24-28 2017
Where: Santa Ana Star Field, Albuquerque New Mexico
Stream: MW Network
Radio: ESPN 101.7 The TEAM