ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – It wasn’t the greatest day for the University of New Mexico softball team as they fell to No. 23 ranked Fresno State in the series finale 11-1 in five innings Sunday afternoon.
Fresno State jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning off starter Krissy Fortner. The Bulldogs used a leadoff home run and a two-RBI single to left. Freshman Colette Robert came into the circle for UNM and got the Lobos out of the inning.
But Fresno State didn’t stop there. Another run came across for them in the second inning, extending the Bulldogs’ lead to 4-0. Four more in the third gave them a 8-0 lead, forcing the Lobos to a possible mercy rule.
The Lobos tried to stay alive but didn’t get their first hit out until the third inning. Junior Shelbie Franc led off the third with a hard-hit triple to right field, hitting the middle of the fence. She then scored on the next play, freshman Cheyenne Smith’s single through the left side.
That was all the Lobos put together for the game. The only other hit came later in that third inning as junior Jasmine Casados singled to right.
The Lobos went to Tess McPherson in the circle to try and get Fresno State off balance but a run in the fourth and two runs in the fifth gave the Lobos only one last chance to stay alive.
The Lobos went down in order in the bottom of the fifth, falling 11-1 to the Bulldogs.
Smith, Franc and Casados had the only hits for UNM. Smith with the only RBI of the game.
In the circle, Fortner took the loss, fall to 3-3 on the season. She allowed three runs off five hits. Robert allowed five runs off seven hits while McPherson allowed three runs off two hits.
New Mexico is now 18-17 on the season and 3-6 in Mountain West play. The Lobos head to Colorado State next weekend to take on the Rams in a three-game Mountain West series. First pitch on Friday is at 4 p.m. MT. Live stats and a live stream will be available on GoLobos.com.