ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – The University of New Mexico softball team fell to No. 23 Fresno State Friday night, 11-5 at the Lobo Softball Field.
It was a battle to start the game as Fresno State put up two runs in the first inning off a two-run home run. The Lobos answered with one of their own, taking advantage of a Bulldog error.
“We started and ended the game battling,” said head coach Erica Beach. “We had a plan against their pitcher and they did a pretty good job of executing that. I was really proud of how hard we worked to keep the momentum and energy on our side.”
Freshman Cheyenne Smith led off with a single down the left field line. She then got to second on a fielding error by the shortstop on senior Mariah Rimmer’s fielder’s choice. Junior Jasmine Casados drew a walk to load the bases and an RBI ground out by freshman Jade Gray gave the Lobos their first run and cut the Fresno State lead to 2-1.
The Bulldogs used more offense to extend their lead in the second inning, putting up three more runs on the board off Lobo starter Lauren Soles to take a 5-1 lead. The Lobos changed things up in the circle to try and get them off balance, going to junior Tess McPherson. McPherson got out of the inning, forcing the batter to ground out on a 1-0 count.
“Our pitching just needs to step up for us,” said Beach. “We gave up too many free bases and then gave up big hits. If we clean up our pitching, we are going to be in the next two games.”
New Mexico answered back again, matching Fresno State’s three runs. Senior Karissa Haleman led off with a single up the middle. An out later, she advanced to second on junior Shelbie Franc’s infield single to short. Haleman was out at third on the next play off Smith’s fielder’s choice but that brought junior Michala Erickson to the plate. Erickson saw four pitches before blasting her fifth home run of the season over the left field wall. That three-run shot brought the Lobos within one, trailing 5-4 going into the third.
The Lobos didn’t get much offense going the rest of the game as they went scoreless until the seventh inning. Fresno State extended its lead in the fourth and sixth innings, putting up four runs in the sixth to take an 11-4 lead.
UNM had one last chance to stay alive in the seventh. They did put up a run off another miscue by the Bulldogs. Franc scored off a throwing error that tried to get Rimmer at first. But that was all that came about in the seventh as the Lobos fell for the 15th time this season.
Franc led the Lobos at the plate with a 2-for-3 effort with two runs scored. Erickson went 1-for-4 with three RBI off her home run.
In the circle, Soles took the loss, falling to 3-6 on the season. She allowed five runs off five hits while walking three. McPherson allowed five runs, four earned, off seven hits while walking two and striking out one in 3.1 innings of work. Sophomore Krissy Fortner made an appearance, coming in the sixth inning. She allowed one run off five hits while striking out one.
The Lobos drop to 18-15 on the season and 3-4 in the Mountain West. Fresno State remains undefeated in MW play with a 7-0 mark. They are 25-9-1 overall. The two teams will meet tomorrow at 1 p.m.