BOISE, Idaho – The University of New Mexico softball team fell 7-5 in the series finale against Boise State Sunday afternoon. New Mexico is now 22-21 on the season and 7-10 in the Mountain West. Boise State improves to 13-33 overall and 5-13 in the MW action.
It was a great start for the Lobos as they put up three runs in the first inning. Freshman Cheyenne Smith scored on junior Jasmine Casados’ sacrifice fly to right field. Sophomore Chelsea Johnson followed with her fourth home run of the weekend, a two-run shot over the right center wall.
Boise State answered in the bottom of the inning with a run off starter Colette Robert. Another run came across in the second for the Broncos, bringing them within one.
The Lobos extended their lead in the third, leading 4-2 after Casados scored on a bases-loaded walk by senior Karissa Haleman.
But Boise State had an answer again with an RBI single and a two-out, two-run home run, giving them a 5-4 lead, the Broncos first lead of the weekend.
Both offenses were quiet in the fourth inning until the Lobos put another run on the board to tie the game in the fifth. Johnson drew a leadoff walk and was pinch ran for by freshman Kasey Halleen. Halleen later scored on Haleman’s sacrifice fly to tie the game up 5-5.
The Lobos tried to get the Broncos off balance as Beach went to Rodrigues in the circle. But once again, the Boise State offense responded, plating two runs in the bottom of the fifth to take a 7-5 lead.
The Lobos offense couldn’t get anything else going in the sixth or seventh to stay alive.
Rodrigues took the loss in the circle, dropping to 2-2 on the season. She allowed two runs off three hits while walking two and striking out one in three innings of work. Robert allowed five runs, four earned, off six hits in three innings of work.
At the plate, Johnson led the Lobos going 1-for-2 with a two-run home run. The Lobos only pounded out three other hits.
The Lobos will take a break from conference play for the final time this season, playing a midweek game at home against Rio Grande Rival New Mexico State on Wednesday at 5 p.m. San Diego State visits the Lobos this weekend for a three-game MW series.