ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – The University of New Mexico softball team used a three-run seventh to cut a two-run deficit and claim a 7-6 victory over Boise State in the first game of the series Friday at Lobo Softball Field.
The Lobos went into the seventh inning trailing Boise State 6-4 but the bats came up big for the Lobos again. Jasmine Casados singled to a deep 5-6 hole to score Michala Erickson but the Lobos got one more run off the play as the Boise State shortstop tried to get the runner out at third but threw the ball away, allowing Brandi Heimburg to come around and score.
The Lobos just need a ball to the outfield and freshman Chelsea Johnson delivered. After Mariah Rimmer was intentionally walked, Johnson drove a ball into deep center field for a sacrifice fly to score Shelbie Franc and claim the Lobos’ 10th Mountain West win of the season and 26th win of the year.
“That was a great competitive game,” said head coach Erica Beach. “It did take us a few innings to adjust to their pitching but we finally did and were able to get some great hits. We had great execution with bunting and moving runners over. We had some really good quality clutch hits that helped us out.
“The key to this team is that they never quit fighting.”
The game didn’t start off how New Mexico wanted it too as Boise State got ahead 1-0 off an RBI walk in the second inning. But that run didn’t faze the tough Lobo offense as they responded with three runs in the next two innings.
Boise State came back to tie the game up in the fifth but the Lobos took the lead again after a run in the sixth.
The score went back into the Broncos’ favor as they scored three runs in the 6th to take their biggest lead of the night 6-4 before the Lobos did what they have done most of the 2015 season; make a comeback.
Carrie Sheehan kept the Broncos to just three runs before Krissy Fortner made her way into the circle. Fortner allowed the Broncos to take the lead but the Lobo offense was able to get Fortner her ninth win of the season.
“Carrie threw a pretty good game and Krissy came out and finish it for us. We had some great defensive plays that helped us out as well.”
Fortner picked up one strikeout in two innings, while allowing three runs off three hits. Sheehan allowed three runs off five hits while striking out five in five innings of work.
At the plate, the Lobos were led by both Heimburg and Casados as the two combined went 6-for-8. Johnson picked up three RBIs on the while Tess McPherson, Rimmer and Franc each had one hit for the Lobos.
New Mexico improves to 26-23 on the season and is now 10-9 in the Mountain West. Boise State drops to 12-37 overall and 4-15 in the Mountain West. The Lobos will look to take the series as the two meet for game two of the series tomorrow at 1 p.m. MT. Live stats and video will be available on GoLobos.com.