LOGAN, Utah – The University of New Mexico softball team exploded on offense, blasting out six home runs for a dominating 12-2 six-inning series finale win over Utah State Sunday afternoon.
“It was so great to see our offense explode like that,” said head coach Erica Beach. “We got power hits from players in all parts of the lineup. Johnson, Utah State’s pitcher, pitched very well against us in her last two outings, so it was nice to see us make an adjustment and hit the ball hard.
“I’m so proud of this team for recovering after game one.”
The home run extravaganza started in the first inning. Brandi Heimburg led off with a walk before Michala Erickson put one over the center field wall for an early 2-0 lead for the Lobos. The two-run homer was her second on the weekend, sixth this season and 11th career.
The inning continued as Haleman came to the plate with two outs. She jacked one over the left field wall to extend the Lobo lead to 3-0. The solo shot was her first of the season and second career.
The bats were quiet on both sides the next three innings as starting pitcher Lauren Soles and the Lobo defense kept Utah State off balance through four straight innings.
“Our defense and pitching did very well today and kept us in the game until our offense took over.”
New Mexico added another run in the fifth off Erickson’s two-out RBI triple to right field, bringing the score to 4-0 Lobos.
Utah State started to make its way back into the game as it scored two runs off Soles in the bottom of the 5th. But the Lobos answered back with eight runs off four home runs in the sixth inning.
The sixth started off with back-to-back-to-back home runs from Mariah Rimmer, Karissa Haleman and Mia Hignojos. The three solo shots extended the lead to 7-2 but the Lobos kept pushing at the dish. Bases were loaded as Erickson came to the plate. She hit a deep ball to right field that scored Lisa Rodrigues. Jasmine Casados then singled to right to score Gabrielle Stacey before Rimmer blasted out her second home run of the inning, a three-run shot that gave the Lobos a 10-run lead and forcing Utah State to a mercy rule.
Soles and the Lobo defense shut down the Aggies in the bottom of the sixth and cut the game short due to the mercy rule.
Soles recorded the win in the circle, improving to 6-4 on the season. She allowed two runs on four hits while walking four and striking out one in six innings of work.
At the plate, the Lobos pounded out 12 hits. Rimmer went 3-for-4 with four RBIs, two home runs in one inning, two runs scored and a stolen base. Erickson finished 2-for-3 with four RBIs and a run scored. Heimburg and Haleman each had two hits apiece, including two home runs from Haleman.
The Lobos improve to 18-13 on the season and 2-1 in Mountain West action. They return home for the Rio Grande Rivalry with New Mexico State on Tuesday at 4:30 p.m. MT at Lobo softball field. The Lobos will return to conference action on March 27 with a three-game series at UNLV.