DAVIS, Calif. – The University of New Mexico softball team dropped the first game of the day 5-4 to Idaho State but battled back in game two to defeat UC Davis 4-3.
The Lobos fell behind 2-0 in the top of the second against the Bengals in game one but tied the game up in the bottom half of the inning. Redshirt freshman Jade Gray led off with a single down the left field line. Senior Karissa Haleman reached on an error. Freshman Brooke Breland drew a walk to load the bases.
The first run came across after junior Michala Erickson was hit by a pitch. The next run, to tie the game up, was plated as junior Shelbie Franc drew a walk.
Lobo starter senior Lauren Soles pitched two scoreless innings in the third and the fourth which gave the Lobos a chance to get ahead.
The Lobos took advantage of that and scored two runs in the bottom of the fourth to take a 4-2 lead over the Bengals. With two outs, freshman Cheyenne Smith singled to center which scored Franc, who reached on a fielder’s choice. Smith then scored on junior Jasmine Casados’ single to center field.
Idaho State got to Soles in the circle, as the Bengals scored three runs. One of those runs came off a Lobo error at second base.
Sophomore Krissy Fortner came into the circle to relieve Soles in the sixth. She pitched two final scoreless innings but the Lobos couldn’t get any offense going as they went three-up, three-down in their final two at-bats.
Soles took the loss in the circle for the Lobos to drop to 2-2 on the season. She allowed five runs, three earned, off eight hits while striking out four and walking one. Fortner allowed just one hit and recorded two strikeouts.
At the plate, Gray went 2-for-3. Smith went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored.
The loss didn’t carry over to the next game as the Lobos came from behind to claim a 4-3 win over UC Davis.
After a scoreless first inning, the Lobos fell behind early as UC Davis scored three runs off Lobo starter Lisa Rodrigues. But that was all UC Davis got the rest of the way as the Lobos went to freshman Colette Robert, who kept them scoreless the rest of the way. That allowed the Lobo offense to come alive.
The Lobos responded to UC Davis’ threes run by putting a run up in the top of the second. The first two Lobo batters drew walks. Breland followed with a bunt-for-base-hit which loaded the bases for freshman Callie McGarrigle. McGarrigle flied out to center but scored Casados.
Two innings later, the Lobos put up another run to cut the UC Davis lead to one, 3-2. Erickson scored off a bases-loaded walk by Gray.
It came down to the Lobos final at-bats of the game. Erickson led off the inning with a single to left and then scored on senior Mariah Rimmer’s double. UC Davis changed pitchers but an error by the second baseman gave the Lobos the game-winning run across the plate.
UC Davis managed to put runners in scoring position off of a single, sacrifice bunt and another sinlge but Robert forced the next batter to foul out to first and fanned the final batter to earn her fourth victory of the season.
Robert is now 4-3 on the season. She allowed five hits while striking out three. Rodrigues allowed three runs, one earned, off two hits.
At the plate, Rimmer went 2-for-4 with an RBI double. Erickson finished 2-for-4 with two runs scored and Franc finished 2-for-3.
New Mexico, 8-7 on the season, will return home next weekend for the first time this season. They will play host to Northern Colorado for a three-game series, starting with a doubleheader Saturday at 1 p.m. The series will finish up on Sunday with a single game at 10 a.m.
Lobo Pride passes are available to purchase, which allows fans to attend all softball and baseball games for a low price of $50 dollars. To purchase, visit GoLobos.com or call 925-LOBO.