PUEBLO, Colo. – The University of New Mexico softball team split a pair of five-inning games with Northern Colorado on Saturday afternoon in Pueblo, Colorado. The Bears took game one by a score of 11-3 in five innings but the Lobos returned the favor by defeating the Bears 12-1 in five innings. The Lobos are now 8-9 on the season.
In the first game, Northern Colorado scored nine runs in the second inning. After the Bears scored six runs off of Lobo starter Tess McPherson. The Lobos changed things up, going to Marissa Bethke in the circle, but Bethke gave up a three-run home run.
The Lobos tried to recover, responding with a run in the next three innings but couldn’t get more offense going to make the comeback.
New Mexico’s run in the third came off a D’Andra DeFlora’s double, scoring Cheyenne Smith. In the fourth, Jasmine Casados led off with a single and scored off Chelsea Johnson’s double. The final run for the Lobos came across in the fifth, off DeFlora’s second double of the game, scoring Jade Gray
McPherson took the loss in the circle, dropping to 4-4 on the season. She allowed seven runs off four hits while striking out three.
At the plate, DeFlora led the Lobos with a 2-for-3 effort for two RBIs.
The Lobos returned the favor in game two, putting up six runs in the second inning. Erickson and McGarrigle both scored off of Jade Gray’s single to center field. Cheyenne Smith followed with a single to score Angelica Lujan. An out later, D’Andra DeFlora doubled to left field, scoring both Shelbie Franc and Smith. The final run of the inning came off a Jasmine Casados single to score DeFlora.
Northern Colorado put a run in the third off Main but the Lobos kept the offense going, scoring three runs in the fourth and three runs.
The fourth inning consisted of a two-RBI single from Johnson and a walk from Michala Erickson that scored Casados. In the fifth, DeFlora singled to score Gray. Casados later followed with a double to right center to score Franc and DeFlora.
Jensen Main kept the Bears off balance. She allowed just one run off four hits, while striking out three and walking none. Main got out of a jam in the second inning when the Bears had the bases loaded but struck out the final batter of the inning. Main improves her record to 3-3 on the season.
At the plate, Gray went 3-for-3 with two RBIs, while Casados and DeFlora each went 2-for-3 with three RBIs.
The Lobos will wrap up the series with Northern Colorado Sunday with first pitch at 12 p.m. MT. For live stats, click here.