MT. PLEASANT, S.C. – The University of New Mexico softball team fell in its early morning game to Furman 7-5 but rebounded in game two to beat tournament host Charleston 7-4 on Saturday at the College of Charleston Invitational.
The Lobos scored consistently in the first game against Furman but gave up too many runs early that it was to late.
Furman hit a grand slam off Lobo starter Laruen Soles in the first inning to take an early 4-0 lead. The Lobos came back in the bottom of the inning to start their rally and put one run across. Mariah Rimmer scored off Mia Hignojos’ single into right field.
The Paladins scored a run in the second and third innings to take a 6-1 lead before the Lobos were able to cut it down to 6-2 in the third by taking advantage of a Paladin error.
Lisa Rodrigues came into the circle for Soles in the third inning and shut down Furman in the fourth and fifth innings which gave New Mexico a chance to put a rally together.
Two runs came across for the Lobos in the fourth. Michala Erickson led off with a single and advanced to third on Brandi Heimburg’s double down the left field line. Erickson then scored off Shelbie Franc’s single to center field and Heimburg later scored off Rimmer’s ground out to second.
Furman put up one more run in the sixth to make it 7-4. The Lobos rallied in the seventh to, plating one run, but was too late.
Soles took the loss in the circle dropping to 5-4 on the season. She allowed six runs off two hits while walking seven and striking out three. Rodrigues allowed one run off three hits in 4.1 innings of work. She walked one and struck out two.
At the plate, Hignojos went 2-for-2 with two walks and an RBI while Chelsea Johnson and Erickson each went 2-for-3.
The Lobos were off to a hot start in game two against tournament host Charleston. The Lobos plated one in the first inning off a first and third play. The Lobos had Rimmer at third and Johnson at second. Johnson stole second and Charleston threw down but Rimmer left for home on the throw and was safe before Johnson was called out.
Senior Carrie Sheehan started in the circle for the Lobos and kept Charleston off balance through the first four innings, allowing New Mexico to get a good offense going.
The Lobos put up two runs in the third. Bases were loaded when Franc drew a four-pitch walk for and RBI and a 2-0 lead. Heimburg later scored on a ground out by Johnson.
New Mexico put together another big rally in the fourth inning to take a 7-0 lead. With one out Rodrigues single through the left side and then score on a Cougar error. Erickson also scored on an error. Rimmer singled to score Heimburg who reached on the error that scored Rodrigues. And the final run came off another first and third situation. Rimmer stole and Franc scored on the throw to second.
Sheehan retired the first batter of each inning in which she pitched but Charleston did get two runsup the board in the fifth. She finished out the inning but walked a batter to start the sixth and Krissy Fortner came in to finish out the game.
Charleston put together two more runs of Fortner before Fortner finished out the game on four strikeouts and a ground out.
Sheehan records the win in the circle which is her sixth this season and one more win that she had in 2014. In five innings of work, she allowed three runs off seven hits while striking out a season-high six batters. Fortner allowed one run off one hit while striking out four.
At the plate, Franc went 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored. Rimmer went 3-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored. Heimburg scored twice.
The Lobos are now 15-12 on the season and is one win away from their 16-win mark in 2014. They finish up the College of Charleston tournament Sunday morning with a single game against Wisconsin at 7 a.m. MT. Live stats will be available on the softball schedule at GoLobos.com.