ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – The University of New Mexico softball team fell in the seventh inning as Colorado State used a late home run to claim a 2-0 victory over the Lobos on Friday at Lobo Softball Field.
Senior Carrie Sheehan had a stellar performance in the circle as she only allowed two hits through six innings. She retired the side in the first three innings of work before Colorado State registered its first hit of the game in the fourth.
But one pitch in the seventh changed the game as the Rams used a late two-run home run to take a 2-0 lead over the Lobos. The Lobos had one last shot in the bottom of the seventh to stay alive but three quick outs in the bottom of the inning gave the Lobos its 20th loss of the season as they dropped to 22-20 overall and 6-7 in the Mountain West.
The Lobos had a couple chances to get runs on the board as they had bases loaded in the fourth inning, but didn’t capitalize on the situation as a ground out ended the inning.
Freshman Chelsea Johnson was the only other Lobo to make it to second as she singled up the middle and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by senior Mia Hignojos in the second inning.
The Lobos only pounded out four hits for the game. Along with Johnson, sophomore Jasmine Casados, Mariah Rimmer and Hignojos had one hit apiece.
Sheehan drops to 6-4 on the season as she allowed two runs off five hits. Colorado State’s Holly Reinke claimed the win for the Rams in the circle. She did not allow a run off four Lobo hits while striking out three and walking two.
Colorado State improved to 22-20 on the season and 3-7 in the Mountain West.
The Lobos and the Rams will meet again, for the second game of the three-game series, tomorrow at Lobo Softball Field. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. MT. Live stats and a live video stream will be available on GoLobos.com or fans can tune in locally to channel 26 as the game will be broadcasted live on UPublic.