TEMPE, Ariz. – The University of New Mexico softball team opened the 2015 season with a split, starting off with a 4-3 win over Seattle U and dropping a 2-0 tough battle in the second game against BYU at the Kajiakawa Classic.
The Lobos saw much improvement of all aspects of the game compared to last season, including minimizing walks and runs in the circle. The Lobos’ pitching staff allowed just five runs on the day and a total of three walks. The pitchers also picked up eight strikeouts for the two games.
“The biggest difference I saw today than last year was pitching,” said head coach Erica Beach. “Every pitcher that stepped on the mound today threw really quality innings, threw great pitches, minimized mistakes and kept us in ball games. That is what we need last year. We needed a pitcher to step up.”
Seattle U got on the board early in the first game as it started the game with a double and a passed ball and overthrow put the one on the board for the Redhawks. First game jitters went out the door the next couple innings as junior pitcher Lauren Soles held them to no runs until the seventh inning.
New Mexico was about to bounced first game jitters at the plate as well, scoring three runs in the fifth inning.
It started with back-to-back walks by Mia Hignojos and Tess McPherson. The Lobos used small ball to advance the runners with a sacrifice bunt from Michala Erickson. Brandi Heimburg then had the go-ahead double to right center that brought in both Hignojos and McPherson for a 2-1 lead.
The inning progressed to another run which was produced by Jasmine Casados with a sacrifice fly to left that scored Heimburg for a 3-1 lead.
The Lobos capped their scoring in the sixth as Karissa Haleman started the inning with a double to center. She advanced to third on a pass ball and then scored on a McPherson single to left center.
Seattle wasn’t done at the plate as the Redhawks scored two more in the seventh but solid New Mexico defense was able to finish the game.
Haleman led the Lobos with a 2-for-3 performance at the plate. Heimburg tallied a game-high two RBIs. Soles went the distance for New Mexico, garnering her first win of the season with four strikeouts and no walks.
Game two proved to be a pitcher’s dual as McPherson and BYU’s Mckenna Bull kept each other scoreless for four full innings. The Cougars began to pick up on McPherson’s pitches as they scored two runs in the fifth which was the only scoring of the game.
“We didn’t make quite as quick adjustments against BYU but that pitcher threw a great game and we learned a lot. We battled the whole game even after we gave up the two runs. We still kept putting the pressure on.”
The Lobos had a few chances to get runs across the board but the timely hitting wasn’t in their favor with only four hits on the game. Heimburg collected two of those hits in three at bats while Shelbie Franc and Michala Erickson each recorded one.
“We were overall competitive. We never felt like we were out. We had our intensity and made some really great plays on defense.”
McPherson took the loss in the circle with 4.2 innings of work. She allowed two runs on six hits while walking two and striking out four.
The Lobos continue playing at the Kajikawa Classic Saturday as they take on Cal State Northridge and San Diego. Live stats are not available but follow @UNMSoftball on twitter for in-game updates. First pitch against Cal State Northridge will be at 6 p.m. while San Diego’s first pitch will be thrown at approximately 8:15.