SAN ANTONIO, Texas – The University of New Mexico softball team put together solid performances in the circle but dropped a pair on the first day of the UTSA Classic, falling 1-0 to both Texas State and UTSA. The Lobos are now 4-8 on the season.
It was another pitcher’s duel for Tess McPherson in the first game. Between the two pitchers, only five hits were allowed. McPherson gave up two but one was all that was needed for Texas State, as the Bears went yard in the second inning. McPherson didn’t give up another hit until the seventh inning.
New Mexico only put together three hits on the game. Jade Gray recorded the first hit in the first inning, a single to the infield. The Lobos did not produce another hit until the sixth inning when Shelbie Franc singled up the middle.
The final hit for the Lobos came in the seventh when Casados singled to the pitcher. She would advance to second on the throwing error but did not advance further. The Lobos ended up leaving three on base for the game.
McPherson suffered her third loss on the season. She is now 3-3 on the year. She allowed one run off two hits while striking out two and walking two.
Game two looked very similar to game one as the Lobos, again, only pounded out three hits for the game.
UTSA got out to a 1-0 start, scoring off a double down the left field off Lobo starter Marissa Bethke. But Bethke kept the Roadrunners off balance until the fifth inning when freshman Jensen Main came into the circle for Bethke. Main pitched the final two innings for the Lobos and only allowed one hit.
The Lobos had a chance in their first at-bats, as Franc reached on a fielder’s choice and advanced to second on Casados’ single through the right side. But the next two batters grounded out to end the inning.
New Mexico went one-two-three in the next five innings until Chelsea Johnson tried to get some offense going in the seventh. She singled up the middle but would not advance as the Roadrunners recorded the final two outs.
Bethke suffered her first loss in a Lobo uniform. She allowed one run off five hits, while walking two and striking out one in four innings of work. Main struck out one and walked two in two innings of work.
The Lobos will move on to the second day of the UTSA Classic tomorrow, playing Incarnate Word at 9 a.m. and will have a rematch against UTSA at 2 p.m. MT. Click here for live stats.