ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Today was a different kind of win for the University of New Mexico softball team.
It may have not been a win on the scoreboard but it was a win as the Lobos celebrated their four seniors for playing their final game in a Lobo uniform.
Seniors Brandi Heimburg, Mia Hignojos, Carrie Sheehan and Gabrielle Stacey were all in the starting lineup in today’s game with San Josè State and were celebrated following the game with balloons, gifts, pictures and family and friends.
“You can’t ask for a better group of seniors than what we have,” said head coach Erica Beach. “They are team players. They have been leaders on and off the field this whole season and they have done whatever it took to make us successful. They led by example. They got it done in the classroom and community service. They got it done on the field.
“They were all impact players for this team and program. As a coach, I couldn’t ask for a better group to lead our team in the right direction.”
On the softball side of things, it was a tough day for the Lobos.
After claiming their first shutout of the season in yesterday’s game, the Lobos had a tough time getting any offense going.
They only pounded out one hit for the game and that came from senior Stacey. In the first inning, Stacey hit a ball to third base and beat out the throw at first.
“This was her first day back from being on the injured reserve list,” said Beach. “This was the only game she was able to play in her senior weekend and comes out, first at-bat of the game and gets a hit. It was really incredible. She has always been feisty and just a tough out to get. She is a great athlete and I am just so happy for her.”
The Spartans took advantage of Lobo starter Sheehan early as they scored three runs in the second. A one-run fourth inning and four-run fifth gave the Spartans an 8-0 lead which put the Lobos in a crunch time position. But three straight strikeouts ended the game.
The Lobos finish the season with a 29-25 record which is 13 more wins than last season and most wins in the Coach Beach era.
After being picked to finish ninth in the conference, the Lobos finished with a 13-11 record which is a fourth place finish among the nine Mountain West teams. The 13 wins is six more than last year’s conference win total and is the second most in program history.
New Mexico will celebrate its season with a banquet tomorrow afternoon.