Familiar big stage, lots of new players: That’s the opening-day setting for the University of New Mexico baseball team.
First-year coach Tod Brown and the Lobos face a stiff early test this weekend at the annual College Baseball Classic in Surprise, Arizona. UNM will play four games in three days beginning with two games Friday, the first against No. 11 Oregon State and the second against Gonzaga.
The Lobos face the Bulldogs again Saturday (5 p.m.) and conclude the tournament against the Beavers on Sunday (5 p.m.).
New Mexico has made regular appearances in the annual CBC in recent years and has fared reasonably well against top-flight competition.