DAVIS, Calif. – The University of New Mexico started off the day with a 6-0 loss to Iowa State but bounced back in game two with a 4-2 win over Idaho State on the second day of the UC Davis Tournament Saturday.
The Lobos dropped the first game of the day to Iowa State 6-0. They couldn’t get much offense going at the plate as they only pounded out five hits for the game, each hit coming from a different player.
Junior Shelbie Franc singled to the infield in the second. Freshman Cheyenne Smith had a bunt for base hit in the fourth which was followed by a two out single by senior Lisa Rodrigues. But those were the only hits for the Lobos until the seventh.
Iowa State came out with an early 2-0 lead in the first inning off Lobo starter Tess McPherson. The Cyclones extended their lead to 6-0 in the fifth inning, scoring four runs. The Lobos changed things up in the circle, giving the ball to Rodrigues. She finished out the fifth and the rest of the game but it was too late as the Lobos couldn’t get more offense going.
In the final at-bats for the Lobos, junior Jasmine Casados led off with a single through the left side. Two outs later, freshman Brooke Breland singled up the middle but that was all that was generated in the final half inning.
In game two, the Lobos bounced back with much more offense than game one. They pounded out seven hits.
The Lobos just needed one inning of offense to claim the victory. Redshirt freshman Jade Gray led off the second inning with a walk. She then advanced to third off senior Karissa Haleman’s double to center. Breland single to center to bring Gray across for the first run of the game.
Michala Erickson followed with a double to score Haleman. An out later, Mariah Rimmer single to score Breland. Rimmer stole second and ended up scoring on a throwing error by the catcher for the final Lobo run of the game.
Idaho State only threatened the Lobos twice, scoring runs in the fourth and seventh innings but freshman pitcher Colette Robert had a great performance in the circle to shut down the Bengals.
Robert earned the victory in the circle to improve her record to 3-3 on the season. She allowed two runs, one earned, off five hits while walking one and striking out one in seven innings of work.
At the plate, the Lobos were led by Rimmer. She went 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI. Haleman went 1-for-2 with a double while Michala Erickson finished with a double and an RBI.
The Lobos are now 7-6 overall on the season. They return to the diamond for the final day of the UC Davis tournament tomorrow but the times have changed for their games with Idaho State and UC Davis. The Lobos’ first pitch was set for 11 a.m. MT and 4 p.m. MT, but has been moved up to 10 a.m. MT and 2:30 p.m. MT.