ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – The University of New Mexico softball team dropped its Mountain West opener Thursday night, falling to Utah State 7-4.
The Lobos fell behind early as Utah State manufactured two runs in the top of the first but the Lobos responded in the bottom half of the inning, taking a 3-2 lead.
Freshman Cheyenne Smith led off with a walk for the Lobos. She advanced to second on a wild pitch and scored off a Mariah Rimmer single up the middle.
Junior Jasmine Casados then blasted her third home run of the season over the left field wall to take a 3-2 Lobo lead.
Utah State changed pitchers, going to senior Noelle Johnson, after junior Michala Erickson followed Casados’ bomb with a single. Johnson held the Lobos scoreless for the next two innings as did Lobo starter Colette Robert.
The Lobos extended their lead to 4-2 after sophomore Chelsea Johnson sent one over the right center wall in the fourth with one out.
But Utah State answered with five of their own in the fifth to take a 7-4 lead. After three Aggies’ runs scored the Lobos went to senior Lisa Rodrigues in the circle but she gave up a two-run homer to extend their lead to three runs.
The Lobos didn’t get much offense going the rest of the way as Erickson was the only one to reach base in the next two innings. The Lobos tried to stay alive in the seventh after senior Karissa Haleman reached on a fielding error and advanced to second on a freshman Jade Gray walk. Smith singled up the middle and Haleman was sent home from second but was out at the plate.
New Mexico only pounded out five hits to the Aggies 13. Smith, Rimmer, Casados, Erickson and Johnson each had a hit. Casados finished with two RBIs, while Rimmer and Johnson each had one.
In the circle, Robert took the loss, falling to 7-6 on the season. She allowed six runs off nine hits while striking out one in 4.2 innings of work. Rodrigues allowed one run off four hits while walking two and striking out one. Krissy Fortner saw action in the final inning but did not allow a run or hit in her inning of work.
The Lobos drop to 15-12 overall and 0-1 in the Mountain West. They will play game two of the three-game series tomorrow night at 6 p.m. at the Lobo Softball Field. Fans will receive a discounted $3 ticket if they are wearing red.