Perfect so far, but it gets tougher

So far, well, perfect.The University of New Mexico baseball team made it a perfect dozen Sunday, knocking off visiting St. Thomas 7-3 at sunny Lobo Baseball Field. 

The Lobos completed a four-game sweep of the Tommies and improved to 12-0 on the season, the program's best start since UNM's 1973 squad won its first 17 games.

Cooper Corkrean pitched five shutout innings and Garrett Rede went 2-for-3 with a homer and three RBIs to spark the Lobos on Sunday. Each team finished with 10 hits, but UNM came up with timely swings and made big pitches when it needed them.

"It always feels good to win," Lobos coach Tod Brown said with a smile.

New Mexico has done nothing but win so far this season, but the Lobos know stormier seas are ahead. UNM's first 12 games have been at home against three teams (Fordham, Northern Colorado and St. Thomas) that have a combined 4-28 record thus far.

The competition level begins to rise this week as the Lobos visit New Mexico State on Tuesday, host Tarleton State (6-4) for four games beginning Friday and open Mountain West play at San Jose State the following weekend.

"The schedule's only going to get harder," Rede said, "but this start is definitely raising our confidence."

If nothing else, the Lobos' blazing start has revealed quality depth on both the pitching staff and the overall roster. Three straight four-game series have allowed Brown to experiment with different lineups and to give extended playing time to just about everyone.

Thirteen pitchers have made multiple appearances for UNM, and outfielder Lenny Junior Ashby is the only player to appear in every game.

"Show me another team in the country that has so many guys with multiple at-bats and innings pitched," Brown said. "Guys are taking advantage of their opportunities and that's really going to help us as the season goes on."

Rede is a prime example. The Rio Rancho High School alum transferred to UNM for a graduate season after playing at Lamar Community College and Regis University. He was expected to add outfield depth.

Thus far, Rede is hitting .368 in seven games with two homers (including a grand slam) and 10 RBIs. He drove in the winning run with two-out, bases-loaded hit in UNM's 4-3 win over St. Thomas on Saturday.

"Growing up in Rio Rancho, I always wanted to play for the Lobos," Rede said. "I had a year of eligibility left and UNM reached out, so it's exciting. I'm just trying to help the team and enjoy it as much as I can."

Rede smacked a two-run homer to left field in Sunday's second inning to give New Mexico a 2-1 lead. He later added a sacrifice fly and singled and scored as the Lobos extended their lead.

"Rede just keeps getting at-bats and keeps producing," Brown said.

UNM is also getting major production from Albuquerque native and first baseman Gene Trujillo. The junior St. Pius alum struggled with a wrist injury last season but is hitting a team-best .500 with nine doubles, a homer and 16 RBIs in 11 games. He already has a Mountain West Player of the Week award under his belt this season and is glad to be back to full health.

"It feels great," Trujillo said. "In the moment, when you're fighting through and injury and struggling, it's hard to look at the bright side. But I think it gives you perspective, too, and it really feels nice when all the hard work starts paying off.

"Effective hitting is nothing new for the Lobos, who led the nation with a .337 team batting average last season. More encouraging this season has been the pitching staff's emergence. UNM finished with an unsightly 8.12 earned-run average in 2025, but sports a 4.46 ERA through 12 games this season.

"Our pitching's much improved over years past," Brown said. "We've got strike-throwers who aren't giving up a lot of free passes. I like what I've seen so far. But now there's a 12-game book on us and teams are going to attack our weaknesses, hitting and pitching. We have to make adjustments and keep improving. The toughest part of our schedule is still to come."