ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – It was a special day for the University of New Mexico Softball team as the Lobos defeated San Diego State 3-2 in walk-off fashion in 10 innings on Senior Day Sunday afternoon at the Lobo Softball Field.
In the bottom of the 10th inning, senior Lisa Rodrigues jacked a two-run shot over the centerfield wall with two outs, giving the Lobos a victory on Senior Day. The home run was her first of the season. The walk-off wouldn’t have come about if it wasn’t for senior Karissa Haleman, who singled up the middle with two outs.
“I was just thinking see the ball and hit the ball,” said Rodrigues. “I needed to get a hit because we were so close to winning and especially against SDSU. They are always a competitor and it felt good to finally take a game from them.”
“First of all Karissa has to be on base for that to happen,” said head coach Erica Beach. “So her great at-bat was critical. But Lisa’s was awesome and I am so happy for her.”
And the win definitely wouldn’t have come without one of the best pitching performances from senior Lauren Soles. Soles went the distance for the Lobos and allowed two runs, one earned, off seven hits while walking just two and striking out seven for her sixth victory of the season.
“It wasn’t just me,” said Soles. “Our defense dominated the game. It was my teammates. They never gave up, even when it looked like we weren’t going to score again.”
San Diego State struck first, scoring a run in the third inning off a Lobo error. Jasmine Casados and Jade Gray collided at the plate on a pop up and the ball ended up fall in fair territory, allowing the Aztecs to get one across.
But the Lobos battled back in the fourth, tying the game at 1-1 off freshman Brooke Breland’s RBI double to right center, scoring Haleman, who led off the inning with a single to center.
It was a pitching duel the rest of the way. SDSU got out of a few bases loaded jams but made a pitching change in the fifth and the Lobos used great defensive stops to keep them off balance.
“We had a lot of runners on,” said Beach. “We had the capability of blowing that game out at any time.”
Soles kept the Aztecs off balance from the fifth to the ninth inning, allowing just one hit in those four innings. She retired 12 out of the 15 batters she faced in those four innings.
“Lauren threw one of the strongest games I’ve seen her throw in her career,” Beach said. “She kept us in the ball game from beginning to end and pitched just as strong as she did in the 10th as she did in the 1st.”
SDSU came back and scored a run in the top of the 10th off an RBI double to take a 2-1 lead before Rodrigues’ blast gave the Lobos their 23 victory of the season.
Following the game, the Lobos celebrated their four seniors in Rodrigues, Haleman, Mariah Rimmer and Soles. All four have played for the Lobos for four years and have had a huge impact on the success of the team.
“All four seniors have been instrumental to this program,” said Beach. “They all have been clutch players for us and strong core group for us. They bring a lot of leadership and a lot of energy. I am proud that they aren’t just great softball players but great people.”
At the plate, Haleman went 3-for-4 with two runs scored. Rodrigues went 2-for-4 with two RBI, a home run and a run scored. Gray and Cheyenne Smith also had two hits apiece.
New Mexico is now 23-24 on the season and 8-12 in the Mountain West. They will conclude the 2016 season next weekend as they travel to San Jose State for a three-game series Thursday, Friday and Saturday.