ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Tess McPherson pitched another beauty and Chelsea Johnson ripped three doubles as New Mexico defeated the Santa Clara Broncos 6-1 to sweep all four games in the Lobo Classic. The win was UNM’s seventh in its last eight games.
The Lobos got all the offense they would need in the first inning as the Lobos scored three times. Much like she was all weekend, Johnson was in the middle of the action. After a leadoff single by Shelbie Franc, she crossed to third on a sacrifice and then scored in a single by Jasmine Casados. Johnson than ripped the first of three straight doubles for her on the day, making it 2-0, and she came around on single by Lauren Wilmert.
Johnson drove in another run with a double in the second. That came immediately preceding a wild rundown as with runners on second and third, Casados grounded a ball to third. Kelsie Barnard opted to go home, trapping Cheyenne Smith. Barnard threw home, and Smith was chased back to third, where DeFlora was standing. DeFlora started to race back to second and got caught between second and third. Eventually, Smith tried for home again, and DeFlora raced for thid, with Casados hustling to second, but Smith then got hung up. The play finally ended with Smith racing back to third, DeFlora hung up between second and third, and Casados basically stealing first as DeFlora was tagged out by the center fielder.
Johnson then roped a double down the line to make it 4-0, and Casados scored on a single by Michala Erickson. UNM scored again in the sixth on a bases loaded walk. All that offense was more than enough for McPherson, who allowed just a run on five hits while walking two and striking out seven in her second complete game of the weekend.
Really the only lasting drama came with two out in the fifth as Johnson went for an NCAA record-tying fourth double in the game, but her slicing hit to right field was snagged by a running Taylor Bojorquez.
New Mexico travels to New Mexico State for a one-game match-up on Wednesday at 5 p.m. before heading out to UNLV to open Mountain West play.
NOTES: Johnson entered the game with four doubles on the season before hitting three in the game … Shelbie Franc went 2-for-2 to raise her average to .483 … Jade Gray played two positions for the second straight game, moving from second to first after moving from second to catcher yesterday.