COLLEGE STATION, Texas – The University of New Mexico put together a comeback in the seventh inning but fell short to Missouri State 7-6 on Sunday morning in the final game of the Texas A&M Invitational. The Lobos are now 4-6 on the season.
The Lobos’ offense started off quick, scoring two runs in the first, taking a 2-0 lead over the Bears. Cheyenne Smith drew a lead-off walk and advanced to second on a pass ball.
She would then score on Shelbie Franc’s bunt single to the infield. Michala Erickson brought in Franc on her single through the left side.
New Mexico would extend its lead to 3-0 in the third inning after an Erickson home run, her first on the season.
Tess McPherson kept the Bears off balance until they responded to Erickson’s home run in the fourth inning, putting up one run and bring the score to 3-1. But the Lobos put together another run, taking a 4-1 lead in the bottom half of the inning. Angelica Lujan singled to left field with one out and scored on Kasey Halleen’s sacrifice bunt and an error from the Bears.
The Bears put up two more runs in the fifth off McPherson to cut the Lobos’ lead to 4-3. Krissy Fortner came into pitch for the Lobos in the sixth inning. She shut them down in the sixth but allowed four runs in the seventh for the Bears to take a 7-4 lead. Two of those runs were earned as the Lobos had two errors.
New Mexico had one last chance to keep the game alive in the seventh. Lujan led off with a double to to left field. She would advance to third and later score on Smith’s groundout to second. D’Andra DeFlora singled through the left side and scored on Jasmine Casados’ double to center. But the inning ended on a pop up to second.
At the plate, Casados, Erickson and Lujan all had two hits each. Erickson finished with two RBI, while Lujan finished with two runs scored.
Fortner took the loss in the circle, her first on the season. She allowed four runs, two earned, off three hits. She walked one and struck out one in two innings of work. McPherson allowed three runs, two earned, off six hits, while walking three and striking out one in 5.0 innings of work.
The Lobos will be on the road again next weekend, heading to the UTSA Tournament. For the tournament schedule, click here.