HOUSTON, Texas – The University of New Mexico softball used its bats right out the gate to claim a 12-4 win over Illinois in seven innings on Saturday afternoon at the Hilton Houston Plaza Classic.
Yesterday, the Lobos fell to Illinois 12-4 yesterday but today was a different day and the Lobos gave Illinois a taste of its own medicine.
UNM scored three runs quick in the first inning off a Mariah Rimmer blast over the center field wall. Shelbie Franc singled to the infield with one out and Jasmine Casados followed with a single through the left side. Rimmer’s bomb came an out later to take an early 3-0 Lobo lead.
Illinois put together a run in the first inning off starter Lauren Soles. But the Lobos rebounded for a seven-run second inning that allowed the entire Lobo lineup to make an appearance in the box.
The inning started with Lisa Rodrigues’ second home run of the weekend, a solo shot to center. The homer was her second career. Michala Erickson followed with a walk and advanced to second on a single through the left side by Brandi Heimburg.
New Mexico rallied two outs later with a walk and four straight hits. The walk from Johnson load the bases and Rimmer blasted one down the left field line for a two-out, two RBI double. Karissa Haleman followed with an RBI single to score Johnson. Mia Hignojos followed with an RBI single to right center and Rodrigues put one up the middle to score the final run of the innings.
The Fighting Illini put together a two run second off Soles but Soles shut them down in the third to maintain a 10-3 lead heading to the fourth.
New Mexico added a run in the fourth frame to take a 11-3 lead. With one out Hignojos reached on a throwing error by the third baseman. Rodrigues walked and the two advanced up on a infield bunt single by Erickson. Hiemburg was hit by a pitch on the next play to score Hignojos.
Illinois put some pressure on the Lobos in the bottom of the inning. Head coach Erica Beach decided to put Krissy Fortner in the circle. Fortner came in with two outs and cut Illinois’ rally. Fortner finished the game and retired the side in the final three innings.
UNM added one more insurance run in the seventh. With one out, Hignojos and Rodrigues hit back-to-back singles. Rodrigues later scored on a pass ball.
Fortner recorded the win in the circle. She allowed no runs and one hit while walking none and striking out two in 3.1 innings of work. In 3.2 innings of work, Soles allowed four runs, three earned, off six hits while walking six and striking out three.
At the plate, Rimmer led the Lobos, going 2-for-5 with a home run, a double and five RBIs. Rodrigues went 3-for-4 with a home run, two runs scored and two RBIs. Everyone in the lineup produced a hit and scored at least one run.
The Lobos are now 7-7 on the season and will finish up the Hilton Houston Plaza Classic tomorrow with a new game time of 9 a.m. MT. The game was schedule for 8 a.m. MT but has been moved back an hour due to weather conditions.