Feb. 13, 2011
New Mexico Box Score vs. Utah Valley
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — The New Mexico softball team improved to 3-0 Sunday with an 8-3 victory over Utah Valley at Lobo Field. UNM is 3-0 to start the season for the first time since 1994. The Lobos poured out 12 hits and overcame an early deficit to capture the series sweep. Lobo newcomers Kaity Ingram and Chelsea Anaya led the offensive attack by going 2-for-4 in the victory. Sophomore Kari Gutierrez came on in relief to get the win and improved to 2-0 on the year.
“It was important for us to play game three with the same intensity as yesterday,” said Lobo head coach Erica Beach. “I thought we played well. We took care of the ball and took care of our swings. We did what it took to win today. It showed a lot of their character to be able to come from behind for the third game in a row. I’m really proud of how they never let anything get them down and were able to score enough runs to get the wins.”
UNM swept its first three-game series since beating Oklahoma State at home in 2008. The Lobos had 33 hits during the weekend and 19 were extra base hits. New Mexico has five triples through three games this season.
For the third straight game, Utah Valley came out swinging and scored first. The Wolverines plated three runs in the first inning. UVU showed power to start the game with a two-run homer by Amanda Perez.
New Mexico wasn’t fazed by the quick start and rallied back. The Lobos scored a pair of runs in the second and third innings to take the lead. It was a lead that UNM would never give up and would cruise to the win.
In the second inning, Lobo junior Jessica Garcia led off with a double to left center. True freshman Madeline Greene hit an RBI double to left with one out that plate Garcia. Greene would later score on a run-down.
UNM opened the third inning with back-to-back triples by Ingram and Anaya. Anaya’s triple down the right field line allowed Ingram to score. She eventually scored on a putout.
The Lobos added another run in fourth inning to make it, 5-3. Ingram hit her second triple of the game down the right field line and picked up the RBI.Junior Danielle Castro blasted a two-run home run in the fifth inning to make it 7-2. Castro was 1-for-3 in the game and had her first homer of the year. UNM hit two bombs in the opening weekend.
Sophomore Cassandra Kalapsa plated the final run in the bottom of the sixth inning. Kalapsa doubled down the left field line that allowed junior Shenise Cox to score. Cox reached on a double to lead off the inning.
Greene made her first collegiate start in the circle for the Lobos. She received the no-decision after pitching three innings, allowing three runs on six hits. Gutierrez came on in relief during the fourth inning and got the win. Gutierrez pitched the final four innings of shutout ball. She only allowed a hit in 13 batters faced. With the win, Gutierrez improved to 2-0 on the year.
Josi Summers got the loss for Utah Valley (0-3) and fell to 0-2 on the year. Summers started and pitched four innings before coming out of the game. Kyli Flanary closed out the final two frames for the Wolverines.
UNM returns to action next weekend at Baylor. The Lobos and Bears will play a three-game series starting Friday with a doubleheader. Every game will be available via gametracker on GoLobos.com.