The University of New Mexico baseball team will begin the 2023 season Friday, diving into the shark-infested waters of the College Baseball Classic.
In four days in Surprise, Arizona, the Lobos will twice play No. 18 Oregon State and take on UC Santa Barbara (ranked 14th in one preseason poll) and Minnesota once each. UNM opens Friday with a noon game against the Beavers, who finished 48-18 and advanced to NCAA Super Regionals last season. UCSB was 44-14 and earned a NCAA Regional berth in 2022, while Minnesota was 16-36.
It’s a tough assignment for UNM (21-33 last season) but it’s also an opportunity.