ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – The University of New Mexico softball team had just enough offense to down Nevada 6-5 for its third straight Mountain West series victory Friday at Lobo Softball Field.
“I think our offense came to play today,” said head coach Erica Beach. “They did a great job. Our defense kept us in the game. They made some great plays throughout the whole game. It was a team win.”
The Lobo offense got off to an early start in the first inning. With two outs, Jasmine Casados drew a full-count walk. Mariah Rimmer then beat out a grounder to the second baseman for an infield single which advanced Casados all the way to third. The two then scored on Karissa Haleman’s fifth home run of the season, a blast over the right field wall to give the Lobos a early 3-0 lead.
The Lobos took a 5-0 lead as a single run was plated in each the second and third innings. Mia Hignojos scored off a Brandi Heimburg’s dropped fly ball in left field in the second and Casados ripped a solo shot over the center field fence in the third, her fifth home run of the season.
Lobo starter Lauren Soles kept the Wolf Pack off balance through five innings with the help of her defense, but Soles struggled in the sixth as Nevada plated a run.
“We made a couple mistakes pitching and hit a couple batters which gave them momentum and clutch hit with bases loaded.
“I think any team in this conference isn’t going to give up because you have a lead. That is what I love about this conference and about every weekend. No matter what the score is, every team in the Mountain West is going to be scrappy and fight. I appreciate that and we can be better at making sure that we hold the lead and keep them down a little bit better by eliminating those free runners and eliminating a big inning.”
Krissy Fortner came in to relieve Soles with bases loaded and recorded a strikeout for the second out of the inning but one pitch in the next at-bat gave Nevada a base-clearing double for three more runs, bringing the score to 5-4.
The Lobos got one more insurance run in the bottom of the sixth off Gabrielle Stacey’s RBI ground out to second to score Shelbie Franc.
That insurance run made the difference as Nevada plated one in the seventh but Fortner forced a final pop to end the game and get her fifth save of the year which breaks UNM softball’s single-season record for saves. Her fifth save also puts her in third all-time for career saves. She ties with former Lobo Katie Cramer, who pitched from 1990-91.
“Krissy is a much different pitcher than the rest of our staff. She spins it and has a good off speed. She has been a great change of pace from most of our other pitchers in the closing situation. She comes in, spins it and gets the opponents to pop up a lot. She has really embraced the role and has done a great job.”
Soles recorded her seventh win of the season as she allowed four runs off five hits while walking two and striking out one in 5.1 innings of work. Fortner allowed one run off one hit while striking out two in 1.2 innings of work.
“Lauren threw really well for five innings. I was very proud of her performance. Krissy had one bad pitch that she paid for but she recovered well and got us out of the game. At the end of the day, we got the win. Our defense kept us in the game. They made some great plays throughout the whole game. It was a team win.”
The Lobos pounded out nine hits for the game. Casados led the squad with a 2-for-2 performance which included a double, a home run and two runs scored. Haleman had three RBIs and a run scored while Hignojos and Rimmer each had two hits.
New Mexico improved to 22-15 on the season and 6-2 in the Mountain West. Nevada dropped to 11-23 on the season and 1-4 in the Mountain West. The two will finish up the series Saturday with the first pitch set for noon MT. Live stats and a live stream of the game will be available at GoLobos.com.
“Winning the first game of the series was a big step up for our team. I think the next step is earning a sweep. We have now won three series so that next step is a sweep. It is a big challenge and it will be a hard fought game between us Nevada tomorrow.”