TEMPE, Ariz. – The University of New Mexico softball started off the day with a big 8-4 win over Pac-12 Stanford but fell 2-0 in the second game to Cal Poly Saturday on the second day of the Kajikawa Classic.
It was an offensive battle between the Cardinal and the Lobos. Stanford opened up the game by putting one run up on the board but UNM responded with three in the bottom of the inning.
“We played a hard-fought battle with Stanford,” said head coach Erica Beach. “The pitchers threw well and our offense was tough the whole game. It was a great team win.”
Redshirt freshman Jade Gray scored on an error by the left fielder off sophomore Chelsea Johson’s single. Freshman Brooke Breland walked to load the bases for freshman D’Andra DeFlora. DeFlora came through with a two-out two-RBI single to left that scored Johnson and Casados, taking a 3-1 lead for the Lobos.
Stanford put up a run in to the second but the Lobos responded once again in the bottom half of the inning.
Junior Michala Erickson started off with a single to left. Junior Shelbie Franc sacrificed Erickson to second. Erickson then scored on senior Mariah Rimmer’s double to left center. Rimmer would go on to score on the next play as junior Jasmine Casados singled to left to give the Lobos a 5-2 lead.
Stanford cut the deficit to two runs, 5-3, in the third as the Cardinal scored on an error by Erickson but they didn’t get anymore offense than that until the seventh as senior Lauren Soles came in to the circle to replace junior Tess McPherson.
New Mexico added one in the fourth off a Rimmer home run. Her first of the season and 14th career home run. More insurance runs came in the sixth as senior Karissa Haleman walked, advanced to second on a wild pitch and then scored off Erickson’s single to left. Franc scored after reaching on a fielder’s choice. She was plated by Rimmer’s single through the left side.
Soles claimed the victory in the circle, her first of the season. She finished with one run off five hits while striking out two and walking just one in 3.2 innings of work. McPherson made her first start of the season, allowing three runs, two earned, off four hits while striking out one and walking four in three innings of work. Sophomore Krissy Fortner made her first appearance of the season, earning her first save of the season, her sixth career.
Rimmer led the Lobos going 3-for-4 with a double and home run for three RBIs. Erickson and Johnson both went 2-for-3.
The Lobos struggled to get offense going in the second game with Cal Poly. The Mustangs put together a run in the fifth and sixth to take a 2-0 lead off relief pitcher Colette Robert and two Lobo errors.
“We didn’t play our best ball in game two but it was all very controllable. We needed a few clutch hits and the game ends differently. Overall the team still fought hard and I am looking forward to tomorrow’s games.”
New Mexico looked to their last at-bats but the first two hitters went down in order. Franc singled to the infield but a ground out from Cheyenne Smith ended the game.
Robert suffered her first loss in the circle, coming in the fourth to relieve starter Lisa Rodrigues. Robert allowed two runs, none earned, off six hits while striking out one. Rodrigues allowed no runs off three hits while striking out two.
Franc, Casados, DeFlora and Erickson each had one hit a piece.
The Lobos (2-1) finish out the Kajikawa Classic tomorrow, taking on Oregon State at 1:30 p.m. MT and No. 17/18 Kentucky at 3:45 p.m. MT. Live stats could be available. Check the GoLobos.com schedule for links.