ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – The University of New Mexico softball team used both pitching and offense to capture a doubleheader sweep of UTEP by scores of 7-5 and 7-4 in the Lobos home debut Tuesday afternoon at Lobo Softball Field.
“We had production from all spots in our lineup,” said head coach Erica Beach. “One through nine. Everyone contributed. We showed all different parts of our game, offensively. We had the short game, the long ball and run production. We had good base running.
“Our pitchers threw well. We just had a couple miscues on defense. UTEP is a good hitting team and they put a lot of pressure on us. We need to continue to work and make sure we stay consistent there.”
The day started off with a big second inning in the first game, plating four runs for a 4-0 lead over the Miners.
Chelsea Johnson singled up the middle, moved to second on a walk from Mariah Rimmer and advanced to third on Karissa Haleman’s groundout to second. Johnson then scored on Mia Hignojo’s sacrifice fly to center. With two outs, the Lobos rallied to put together three more runs. Rimmer scored on Lisa Rodrigues’ single through the left side. Shelbie Franc walked in a run for an RBI and Jasmine Casados later singled up the middle to score Michala Erickson.
Carrie Sheehan, the Lobos’ starter in the circle, held UTEP scoreless through the first two innings. UTEP scored three off Sheehan in the third but with help of the offense, Sheehan kept the Miners scoreless in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings.
The Lobos added two more runs in the fourth to take a 6-3 lead. Casados smashed one up the middle for two RBIs with two outs.
New Mexico capped its scoring in the sixth with one more run off Erickson’s second home run of the season, a solo shot to left field which was her seventh career blast.
Coach Beach put in sophomore closer Krissy Fortner in final inning. UTEP threatened but Fortner stopped the rally to help the Lobos to their ninth win of the season.
Sheehan claimed the win in the circle, boosting her record to 4-1 on the season. She allowed three runs, none earned, off seven hits in six innings of work. She walked three and struck out two. Fortner gave up two hits for two runs, one earned in one inning of work.
Casados led the squad at the plate, going 2-for-3 with three RBIs. Johnson also went 2-for-3 at the plate. Rodrigues, Erickson, Rimmer and Heimburg each pounded out a hit for the Lobos.
UTEP got off to a 1-0 lead in the second game. The Miners got runners on early and capitalized on a Lobo error but Lobos’ starter Lauren Soles finished the inning with only one run scored.
Soles kept UTEP off balance for the next four innings which help lead the Lobos’ offense to score in the next five innings.
New Mexico tied the game in the second when Rodrigues blasted her third home run of the season. Her solo blast to left was her third career.
The Lobos took the lead in the third off a Franc double down the left field line. Heimburg led off the inning with a double and then score on Franc’s double. Franc later scored on Johnson’s sacrifice fly to right to take a 3-1 Lobo lead heading to the fourth.
The Lobos added two runs in the fourth. With two outs, Casados, once again, singled up the middle to score Heimburg and Haleman.
More offense was produced in the fifth and sixth innings as the Lobos added an insurance run in both the frames. In the fifth, Rodrigues scored on an error by the Miners and in the sixth, Casados blasted out her second home run of the season over the center field wall. The shot was her ninth career home run for the Lobos.
Coach Beach used her closing strategy again, putting in Fortner for the final two innings of the game. Fortner allowed three runs on four hits.
Soles grabbed the victory in the circle and is now 4-1 on the season. She allowed one run on four hits while walking one and striking out two in 5.2 innings of work.
Casados was the leader of the pack again at the plate, hitting 2-for-4 with three RBIs. Rodrigues wwas perfect at the plate, going 2-for-2 with two runs scored and an RBI. Rimmer had two hits.
“I’m really proud of the way they fought throughout the entire game. We scored in multiple innings and our pitchers kept us in the game and that is what matters. They keep us competitive. Our offense can score runs. If we can do that and if our pitchers keep throwing well, we are going to be doing some good things.”
The Lobos will continue their seven-game home-stand this weekend as they host the Lobo Classic. The first Lobo game of the weekend will be Friday at 2:30 p.m. against Cal State Bakersfield.