ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – The University of New Mexico softball team had a chance to tie the game in the eighth inning but fell short 8-7 to Bakersfield on Friday afternoon of the first day of the Lobo Classic at Lobo Softball Field.
After being tied 7-7 heading into extra innings, the two teams went into a international tiebreaker, putting a runner on second to start the extra inning. Bakersfield capitalized on the runner at second, scoring off a double to right field.
The Lobos had Mia Hignojos on second. She moved to third on a wild pitch and was in scoring position with no outs. The next two Lobos grounded out but Brandi Heimburg kept things alive with a walk and stolen base to put runners on second and third with two outs. Shelbie Franc came to the plate but grounded out end the game.
Bakersfield got off to an early 4-0 lead in the first two innings off Lobo starter Carrie Sheehan. Head coach Erica Beach made a pitching change to Krissy Fortner, who has been able to keep the Lobos’ opponents off balance all season.
Fortner was able to hold the Roadrunners through three straight innings and allow the Lobo offense to get back in the game.
The Lobos did just that.
“I was happy with the grit and the fight that our team showed to back from the deficit early in the game”, said head coach Erica Beach. “But when it came down to it, Bakersfield executed when they needed to, with the runners in scoring position, late in the game.”
It started in the bottom of the second when Mariah Rimmer and Karissa Haleman hit back-to-back singles. With one out, Gabrielle Stacey tripled down the left field line to score both Rimmer and Haleman. The Lobos plated one more in the inning after Heimburg walked and tried to steal second. She stayed in a run-down just long enough for Stacey to cross the plate and bring the Lobos within one.
New Mexico put up a run on the board in the third inning to tie the game at 4-4. Franc started the inning reaching on an error and then later scored on Rimmer’s double to left center.
In the fourth, the Lobos took a 5-4 lead after Hignojos started the inning off with a single. She advanced to second off Stacey’s groundout and moved to third on a pass ball. She then scored on Michala Erickson’s double down the left field line.
The Lobos extended their lead in the fifth with two more runs. Chelsea Johnson led off with a single to center field. She later scored on Hignojos’ ground out to short. Rimmer doubled to left and scored on Stacey’s bunt-for-base hit.
As the Lobos brought themselves back into the game and put together a healthy lead, Bakersfield started to get to relieve Fortner. Bakersfield put up three runs in the sixth to tie the game. Five of the Roadrunners’ runs were scored with two outs.
Fortner took the loss in the circle for UNM, allowing four runs off seven hits in 6.1 innings of work. Her 6.1 innings of work is the most she has pitched in her first season with the Lobos. She walked two and struck out four.
At the plate, Rimmer was perfect, going 3-for-3 with two runs scored and an RBI. Stacey went 2-for-4 in her first full game of the season. She recorded three RBIs and a run scored.
The Lobos are now 10-8 on the season and will continue the Lobo Classic with two games Saturday against Rutgers at 12:30 p.m. MT and Bakersfield at 3 p.m. MT.
“We are very close and we fought hard. I am looking forward to another chance to face them again tomorrow.”