PREVIEW: Northern Colorado Baseball Prepares for Four-Game Series at New Mexico

Friday, February 20

Albuquerque, NM

2 p.m. MST

University of Northern Colorado

New Mexico

Jesus Ayala | UNC Athletics

2/18/2026 10:37:00 AM | Baseball

By: Elian Soto, Assistant Director of Strategic Communications

GREELEY, Colo. – Northern Colorado baseball hits the road for a series against the New Mexico Lobos, beginning Friday at Lobo Baseball Field in Albuquerque, New Mexico. First pitch is set for 2:00 p.m. MT on Friday February 20, as the Bears look to bounce back and regain momentum after opening the 2026 season with four games at Wichita State.

Northern Colorado enters the series determined to respond after dropping four contests at Wichita State to begin the year. The Bears showed flashes offensively and gained valuable early-season experience but now turn their focus to sharpening execution on both sides of the ball against a competitive Lobo squad.

2026 SUMMIT LEAGUE PLAYERS TO WATCH
Northern Colorado placed two key contributors on the 2026 Summit League Players to Watch list after standout performances during the 2025 season.

JAKE BULLARD | NORTHERN COLORADO | GR. | IF
Graduate infielder Jake Bullard made an immediate impact in his first season in Greeley in 2025. He hit .289 with three home runs and 23 RBI, delivering steady production in the middle of the lineup. Bullard tallied 10 multi-hit games, including five three-hit performances, showcasing his ability to spark the offense and produce in clutch situations.

Prior to arriving at Northern Colorado, Bullard competed at Stetson Hatters, where he earned Atlantic Sun All-Freshman Team honors in 2022. His veteran presence and consistency will once again be a key factor for the Bears as they look to rebound this week.

JAKE STOREY | NORTHERN COLORADO | SR. | RHP
Senior right-hander Jake Storey has been a reliable arm for the Bears throughout his career. With 27 career starts and six wins, Storey has established himself as a cornerstone of Northern Colorado's pitching staff. He has recorded 117 career strikeouts, including a career-high 45 during the 2025 season.

Storey also earned postseason recognition in 2024 with a selection to the Summit League All-Tournament Team. Entering his senior campaign, he is expected to anchor the rotation and provide leadership on and off the field as the Bears look to settle in early this season.

2025 SEASON AT A GLANCE
The Bears concluded the 2025 season with an 18-33 overall record and a 9-21 mark in Summit League play. With experienced returners and proven leaders highlighted on the Players to Watch list, Northern Colorado enters 2026 focused and determined to respond after a challenging opening weekend.

The match up with New Mexico presents an opportunity for the Bears to clean up defensive execution, limit free passes on the mound and capitalize on scoring opportunities as they continue through a demanding nonconference slate.

SCOUTING THE LOBOS
In their 2026 series opener, the Lobos brought an aggressive, contact-driven offense into the match up, hitting .408 as a team with a 1.198 OPS over four games. They consistently apply pressure at the top of the order and capitalize on traffic, scoring 44 runs on 40 hits while posting a strong .555 on-base percentage.

This group shows good gap power (11 doubles, 4 home runs) and is difficult to pitch around, drawing 31 walks with only 18 strikeouts. Several hitters are producing in run-scoring situations, helping the Lobos total 43 RBIs in a short sample.

On the other side, opponents have hit .309 against them with a .932 OPS, indicating the Lobos pitching staff has been solid but still allows base runners and extra-base damage (10 doubles, 4 homers allowed). Overall, New Mexico profiles as a high-tempo offensive team that thrives on getting on base and forcing defenses to execute.

Fans can catch all the live action on ESPN+ and stay up to date with coverage through the official UNC Baseball social media channels.

UP NEXT: After wrapping up their four-game series at New Mexico, the Bears will travel to St. George, Utah for another four-game match up against Utah Tech, beginning Friday, February 27.

DIAMOND CLUB
The Diamond Club plays a vital role in supporting the UNC Baseball program. By giving to the Diamond Club, you help provide access to facility enhancements—such as the Jackson Field Turf Project—along with advanced technology and elevated daily operations, giving our student-athletes the resources to compete and excel at the highest level.

Give to the Diamond Club today!

FOLLOW THE BEARS
For complete coverage of UNC Athletics, check out the official homepage at uncbears.com. Follow the baseball team on X (formerly Twitter) (@UNC_BearsBSB) and Instagram (@UNC_BearsBaseball).