TEMPE, Ariz. –The University of New Mexico softball team captured its third win of the weekend, a 6-3 win over UC Santa Barbara to finish off the Kajikawa Classic on Sunday afternoon at the Tempe Sports Complex.
“This game was a perfect ending to the weekend,” said head coach Erica Beach. “We kind of had to battle back each time we won. Our team just hasn’t lost its grit. Our offense is potent. We’re dangerous and every kid has contributed at one point or another. We know that we are going to put runs across the board.”
After two scoreless innings, the Lobos strung solid hits together, scoring three runs in the bottom of the third. Back-to-back bunts by Michala Erickson and Brandi Heimburg put runners on first and second. The next at bat, the two advanced up a base on Shelbie Franc soft slap to the pitcher. The two then scored on a Jasmine Casados single up the middle. Casados then scored on a Chelsea Johnson double to right center for a 3-0 Lobo lead.
Santa Barbara started to get offense going on starting Lobo pitcher Tess McPherson. Head coach Erica Beach brought in Carrie Sheehan for relief but UCSB scored two runs in the fourth and one run in the fifth on Sheehan to tie the game up.
The Lobos didn’t back down as they scored three more runs in the fifth to take the lead for good.
“Our team has been tenacious. We have been feisty and we haven’t given up no matter what the score is. I am proud of them. They got three hours of sleep last night and showed up to the field and worked it like they were fresh.”
The inning started off with back-to-back base hit bunts by Heimburg and Franc. Casados loaded the bases by a hit-by-pitch. Heimburg was thrown out at home on the next play but Johnson singled up the middle to score Franc. Casados scored on Karissa Haleman’s single through the left side and Rimmer scored next on a sacrifice fly from Mia Hignojos.
Sophomore Krissy Fortner came into relieve Sheehan and pitched two scoreless innings to hold off UCSB and claim the save. Sheehan collected the win and is now 1-1 on the season. Sheehan tallied one strikeout while allowing one run. Fortner allowed no runs and recorded one strikeout.
“Our pitching just absolutely did a great job as far as working together. We had three pitchers in the game. They worked together to minimize the runs and hold them to the three runs which gave our offense a chance to fight back and win the game.”
Casados and Johnson led the squad with two hits apiece and each had two RBIs. Haleman, Erickson, Franc and Heimburg each had one hit for the Lobos.
The Lobos head into next weekend 3-2 on the season. Last season the Lobos came out of the Kajikawa Class with a 1-4 record. Next weekend, the team heads to Las Vegas, Nevada for the Wilson Demarini Classic hosted by UNLV.
“Finishing over .500 for the first weekend and getting some good, quality wins under our belt, especially since all the wins we fought for, it helps our team build character. You win some and you lose some. I love the fight they are showing. That will help prepare us later on in the season, especially when we get to conference.”