HENDERSON, Nev. – It was a more productive day for the University of New Mexico softball team as it had a total of 23 hits between the two games, including 15 hits in an exciting comeback to beat Indiana 9-8. The Lobos fell in the first game of the day, 9-3 to Utah Valley.
In the second game, the Lobos struggled to get offense going as they were scoreless through the first three innings.
Indiana got off to an early start as they got to starting Lobo pitcher Lauren Soles. The Hoosiers recorded a run in the second and six runs in the third.
The Lobos rebounded back in the fourth inning to go off for an eight-run inning. It started off with back-to-back singles from Chelsea Johnson and Karissa Haleman. Johnson then scored on Mariah Rimmer’s double to center. Haleman moved to third on the play and then scored on Mia Hignojos’ single up the middle which also scored Rimmer.
Junior transfer Taylor Duffy and Michala Erickson were both hit by a pitch to load the bases. With two outs, the bases were then cleared by Jasmine Casados as she doubled to right field. Johnson came back to the plate for the second time in the inning and singled to center to score Casados. The Lobos scored one more run in the inning as Rimmer doubled to left to score Johnson.
Relief pitcher Krissy Fortner pitched solid the rest of the way for the Lobos. She kept Indiana scoreless and off balance in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings until the Hoosiers plated on in the seventh to tie the game 8-8.
But the Lobos’ offense came up clutch in the bottom of the inning. Hignojos started the inning off with a single up the middle. One out later, Michala Erickson doubled to left center, putting runners in scoring position. Brandi Heimburg was then intentionally walked to load the bases for Shelbie Franc. Franc took the Indiana pitcher to a two-two count before smacking one through the left side for a walk-off single to claim the game for the Lobos.
Fortner captured her first win of the season, recording three strikeouts and allowing one run on one hit. Rimmer, Hignojos and Casados all went 3-for-4 at the plate while all but one Lobo in the lineup got a hit in the game. Casados had a team-high three RBIs.
The day didn’t start out how the Lobos wanted it as they suffered a 9-3 loss to Utah Valley.
Utah Valley got off to an early start in the first inning off starter Tess McPherson. The Wolverines scored four in the first.
The Lobos were able to get a run across in the third. Heimburg bunted for a base hit and later scored off Casados’ single up the middle.
Utah Valley plated two more runs in the fourth but the Lobos managed to match the two runs as Johnson blasted her second career home run over the left center wall. Lisa Rodrigues was the second run that scored. She was plated off Franc’s infield single to third.
The Lobos bats were quiet the rest of the way. Utah Valley added three more runs in the fifth to cap its scoring.
Haleman led the Lobos at the plate, going 3-for-4. Franc, Casados and Johnson each had an RBI. McPherson took the loss in the circle for the Lobos, dropping to 0-2 on the season.
The Lobos, who are 4-5 on the season, finish up the Wilson DeMarini Desert Classic on Sunday with a single game against Seattle U at 10 a.m. MT. Live stats will not be available but in-game updates will be available on Twitter @UNMSoftball.