COLLEGE STATION, Texas – The University of New Mexico fell in both games on the first day of the Texas A&M Tournament Friday, falling 5-3 to Missouri State and 5-1 to Stephen F. Austin.
In game one, the Lobos allowed two runs in the first inning but responded with one of their own in the third. Cheyenne Smith led off with walk. D’Andra DeFlora sacrificed Smith to second and Shelbie Franc doubled to right center to score Smith, closing in on the Bears 2-1.
Missouri State responded in the bottom of the third with two more runs, extending their lead to 4-1. The Lobos made a pitching change in the sixth inning going to Marissa Bethke. Bethke allowed one unearned run, bringing the score to 5-1.
The Lobos didn’t get anything across until the seventh inning when DeFlora smashed her first home run of the season over the left field wall, scoring Smith, who led off the inning with a double.
Jasmine Casados kept the rally going with a single up the middle with one out, but the Lobos couldn’t finish out the game.
Jensen Main took the loss for the Lobos, dropping to 1-2 on the season. She allowed four runs off eight hits while walking one and striking out one.
At the plate, Franc led the Lobos with a 3-for-4 effort. She also had an RBI. Casados went 2-for-4 while Smith went 2-for-2 with two runs scored. DeFlora finished 1-for-3 with two RBIs.
In game two, Stephen F. Austin got on board first with two runs off Lobo starter Tess McPherson. The Lobos responded in the bottom of the inning with a run. DeFlora tripled to start the offense for the Lobos and scored on Franc’s single to center field.
But the offense was quiet the rest of the way. The Lobos pounded out just five hits.
Stephen F. Austin put together a run in the third and two runs in the fifth. The Lobos made a pitching change, going to Krissy Fortner in the sixth inning, which kept Stephen F. Austin quiet the rest of the game.
McPherson suffered her first loss on the season and is now 3-1. She allowed five runs, three earned, while walking six and striking out two in five innings of work. Fortner did not allow a run in two innings. She tallied two strikeouts.
Five different players each has a hit in Franc, DeFlora, Casados, Cameryn O’Grady and Cheyenne Smith. Franc had the lone RBI of the game.
The Lobos will look to rebound from the losses tomorrow for the second day of the Texas A&M tournament. They will get another shot at Stephen F. Austin Saturday morning at 9 a.m. before taking on Texas A&M at 11:15 a.m. For live stats, click here.