RENO, Nev. – The University of New Mexico softball team put together late offense to claim a 3-2 win over Nevada in the series finale Sunday afternoon at Hixson Park.
It was another tough battle between the two teams as neither team had any scoring action through five innings.
But the Lobos were the first to get on the board this game as Mariah Rimmer led off the sixth inning by smashing a solo shot over the center field wall. The homer was her fifth on the season.
Nevada wasn’t going down easy as they answered with two of their own to take a 2-1 lead over the Lobos heading to the seventh.
In the seventh, the Lobos put together a string of hits to take a 3-2 lead. With one out, freshman Brooke Breland walked and advanced to second on junior Shelbie Franc’s single to left. Freshman Cheyenne Smith loaded the bases with a bunt single, bringing junior Michala Erickson to the plate. Erickson took a 1-2 pitch to center field bringing in two runs for a 3-2 Lobo lead.
The Lobos needed just three outs to finish off the game and they did just that.
The leadoff hitter for Nevada singled through the right side but nothing else came about as two groundouts and a fly out gave the Lobos their 18th win of the season.
Robert claimed the win in the circle, improving to 8-6 on the season. She allowed two runs off eight hits while striking out two and walking one.
At the plate, Franc led the Lobos with a 3-for-3 performance with a run scored. Rimmer, Erickson, Smith and Johnson all had one hit apiece.
The Lobos improve to 18-14 on the season and 3-3 in the Mountain West. They return home next weekend to play host to Fresno State on Friday, April 8 at 6 p.m. Saturday’s game will begin at 1 p.m. with a noon start on Sunday.