LAS CRUCES, N.M. – Mariah Rimmer went 2-for-2 at the plate and doubled in one of the Lobos’ three runs, but it wasn’t enough as the University of New Mexico softball team fell to Rio Grande rival New Mexico State 11-3 in five innings Tuesday night.
The Lobos (11-8) scored first and managed to tie the contest at three runs apiece heading into the home half of the third inning, but yielded eight runs over the final three frames to drop its fourth straight to the Aggies (17-8).
New Mexico will host the return game in this year’s home-and-away series on May 4.
Rimmer got UNM off to a solid start in Tuesday’s affair, roping a double down the left-field line to score Cheyenne Smith, who singled to open the game at the NM State Softball Complex.
But NM State quickly turned the advantage in the bottom of the first. Lobo starter Lauren Soles sandwiched a pair of walks around two outs before surrendering a three-run home run to Fiana Finau.
New Mexico knotted the game up a 3-all in the top of the third after a Jasmine Casados single and an error by Aggie shortstop Lucy Mendoza allowed Smith (walk) and Rimmer (single) to score on one play.
The Lobos had a chance later in the third to take the lead after Casados reached third base after an error and a fielder’s choice, but Tess McPherson flied out to right field to end the threat.
NM State claimed lead for good in the bottom of the third, as the Aggies chased Soles after a leadoff single before turning on relief pitcher Colette Robert.
Robert allowed a single and a walk to load the bases, and then gave up her first run with an illegal pitch while facing Finau.
Finau then doubled to score a second run and Victoria Castro followed with an RBI single to put NM State up 6-3.
New Mexico’s only other scoring opportunity came in the top of the fifth inning as Rimmer worked a walk out of NM State relief pitcher Karysta Donisthorpe before stealing second base.
But three straight strikeouts by Donisthorpe ended the rally with Rimmer stranded at second.
The Aggies ended the game in the bottom of the fifth, tagging Robert for another four runs on five singles, a double and a passed ball. McPherson came in with the Lobos down 10-3 to prevent the game being run-ruled, but gave up an RBI double to her first batter for the final margin.
Robert (6-3) finished the game going 2.1 innings, giving up 7 earned runs on 10 hits. The Lobos offense, which scored 25 runs this past weekend in a three-game sweep of Northern Colorado, only mustered six hits against Aggie starter Makayla McAdams and Donisthorpe. Soles took the loss to drop to 2-3 on the season.
New Mexico returns to action next Tuesday as it takes on UTEP for a doubleheader down in El Paso, Texas.