LAS CRUCES, N.M. –– The New Mexico State baseball team will face off against its Battle of I-25 rival, the University of New Mexico Lobos, on Jackie Robinson Day, April 15.
NMSU trails the season series 2-0, but have two more chances to notch a win against the Lobos. UNM won the first matchup in Albuquerque 7-0 and came up victorious in Las Cruces, defeating the Aggies 15-10.
Despite the losses to the Lobos, the Aggies notched two ranked wins in March. One of these ranked wins was against the Texas A&M Aggies, who were ranked as the No. 1 team in the country to start the season. After falling in the first two games of the series, NMSU responded well in the series finale, winning 4-1. The other ranked win was against the Conference USA favorite Dallas Baptist Patriots. Just like the Texas A&M series, the Aggies fell in the first two games, but remained competitive. They used the losses as motivation to achieve a 4-3 win in the final game of the series.
These two wins marked the first time the Aggies beat two ranked teams in the same season since 2012.
This season, the Aggies have been led by Las Cruces native Steve Solorzano. Solorzano is batting a .390 avg, and has hit five home runs. He is second on the team with 22 RBIs.
Sheehan O’Connor is another player having a tremendous year for the Aggies. O’Connor is batting a .316 avg, and leading the team in home runs with eight.
The Aggies currently hold a 15-14 record, including a 3-3 conference record. They play six conference games, including series against both Sam Houston State and Florida International University on the road, before returning to Presley Askew Field to face the Lobos. They will also play a non-conference game against the Arizona Wildcats before the rival matchup.
This upcoming rivalry game is not only important to the Aggies as they look to avoid being swept at home by the Lobos, but it is a day to celebrate the late Jackie Robinson.
Robinson is known for breaking the MLB’s color barrier after making his debut on April 15, 1947, for the Brooklyn Dodgers. Each year on April 15, players from the MLB and collegiate baseball wear Robinson’s iconic No. 42 in his honor. This tradition has been around since the MLB decided to retire Robinson’s No. 42 across the entire league in 1997.
Beyond his historic debut, Robinson was a six-time All-Star, a National League MVP in 1949 and helped lead the Dodgers to a World Series title in 1955. His contributions extended beyond the field as he became an active voice in the Civil Rights Movement, advocating for equality in sports and society. His impact paved the way for future generations of black athletes and transformed baseball into a more inclusive sport.
First pitch for the Battle of I-25 is set for 6 p.m. April 15, at Presley Askew Field.
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