ALBUQUERQUE -- To hear Ray Birmingham talk about taking The University of New Mexico baseball team to the College World Series is nothing new.

He's been doing it since before he was officially interviewed to become the Lobos' new head coach nearly five years ago. UNM, he has long said, is a sleeping giant.

The state's weather, the homegrown talent and Birmingham's ability to recruit nationally all seemed to be the perfect mix for building a team that would perennially compete with the nation's big boys.

Now that he's got a pitching staff that's arguably the best the school has ever seen -- starters Austin House, Jake McCasland and Rudy Jaramillo join junior college transfer Sam Wolff at the top of the rotation -- one would be wise to start taking Birmingham's travel plans a little more seriously.

Entering his fifth season at the helm, he has taken the Lobos to consecutive NCAA Tournaments and captured the school's first Mountain West Conference tournament championship.

"This is the first time in I don't know how long that I can say we finally have the pitching that might match our hitting," Birmingham said. "It says a lot about the starting rotation when our returning No. 1 [Jaramillo] might drop to No. 3 or 4 in the rotation. And our bullpen. It's been a long time since I've been able to look down there and not get nervous."

The Lobos open their 2012 season Friday at Isotopes Park against Nevada. UNM will play 18 of its first 23 games in Albuquerque, including the Mountain West Conference series opener against San Diego State from March 16-18.

UNM finished 20-41 last season but still got into the NCAA Tournament by virtue of an automatic bid after winning four straight games by a combined five runs in the MWC Tournament.

"The kids responded on the road late and it's how you play late, not early," Birmingham said. "This year I'm looking for big things. Big, big things. ... If we're good and lucky and everything falls into place, hopefully we'll be driving a bus to Nebraska in June."

Birmingham's teams have always been able to pound the ball. His 2009 club led the country in hitting, and this year's lineup could rival that team's numbers. One problem is the loss of projected cleanup hitter Luke Campbell.

The senior will miss up to 12 weeks after an errant foul ball hit him in the face during practice this week, fracturing his orbital bone.

"Any time you lose a four-hole hitter it hurts," Birmingham said. "It hurts losing the caliber of hitter Campbell is, but somebody will step it up and hold fort until Luke gets back. We hope that he can get back sooner than eight weeks, but we will just have to see how he heals."

Campbell had five home runs and was fourth on the team last year with a .301 average. He was penciled into the heart of an order that included junior catcher Mitchell Garver (.300 average, 2 home runs, 27 RBI), sophomore first baseman D.J. Peterson (.317, 6, 48), senior infielder Kyle Stiner (.282, 2, 31) and senior second baseman Ben Woodchick (.268, 1, 15).

"Last year we knew we were going to get beat up playing the kind of schedule we did," Birmingham said. "We want to play the best, but it's not about wins and losses as much as it about getting to Omaha and that's what we're trying to do."

The Lobos' schedule includes dates with national powers Arizona State, Oklahoma, Fresno State and conference rival TCU. Whereas last year's youthful team -- all but two players return -- was inexperienced by heavy competition, this year's club is brimming with confidence.

"I think now we've got a group of guys who don't get a little nervous because they look in the other dugout and it says Arizona State on it or Oklahoma or Texas," Birmingham said. "Doesn't matter. Bring it."

Contact Will Webber at 986-3060 or at wwebber@sfnewmexican.com