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The heat continues. But is the University of New Mexico softball team ready for the long list of bullies set before them by coach Ty Singleton?

"We might get our noses bloodied a bit," said the second-year Lobos coach. "Then we just have to jump up and get better.

"We're working on getting tougher, and we expect there will be some bumps in the road."

Getting better is one of the themes for Singleton's 2008 softball schedule.

But there is another objective, too.

If Singleton's young Lobos do well with the hot plate he has set before them, it could earn the Lobos an at-large NCAA bid.

The schedule is that tough.

Take last week. The Lobos played the No. 2-ranked team in the nation, Alabama.

"We lost (10-2), but that game showed us where we want to go and what we need to do to get better," said Singleton.

Look down the road. The Lobos visit No. 1 Arizona, the defending NCAA champs. They also scrimmage the U.S. National Team, play Oklahoma State and visit some always-tough California teams. UNM will face at least seven teams this season that are nationally ranked.

Look at this weekend. The Lobos Invitational includes No. 22 Missouri and No. 15 Washington, the NCAA third-place team last year behind Arizona and Tennessee.

The Lobos entered the 2008 season picked to finish fourth in the Mountain West Conference. UNM returns seven starters: Analise Rubalcava, Sara Loeffelholz, Samantha "Sammie" Hughes, Katie Gilmore, Ashley Allen, Lindsey Elcess and senior pitcher Kelly Ninemire.

Loeffelholz is UNM's top hitter so far this season batting .417. Elcess is at .369.

Ninemire is 2-1 on the mound with a 0.74 ERA and 16 strikeouts.

But the Lobos are young with three seniors, five juniors, four sophomores and seven freshmen on the roster.

The Lobos take a 4-3 record into their Invite. They went 2-2 last weekend at the Alabama Crimson Classic, where freshman Gabriella Parra hit .364.

"Our schedule definitely challenges us," said Singleton. "But I think we have the physical tools in place to handle it. Our pitching is doing a good job. Our players are progressing at a rate where they should be ready to face this.

"I believe if we are going to be able to win conference, if we are going to be successful in postseason, we have to get to the point where we are comfortable with this type of competition."