ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – The University of New Mexico softball team fell to the Nevada Wolf Pack 10-2 in six innings on Friday afternoon. The Lobos are now 18-14 on the year and 4-3 in the Mountain West.
Nevada got out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning. And it was a struggle to get the offense going for the Lobos. The Wolf Pack put up five runs in the third, taking a 7-0 lead.
The Lobos answered in the bottom of the third with a run. With two outs, D’Andra DeFlora was hit by a pitch. Jasmine Casados followed with an RBI double to left center, scoring DeFlora from first.
Hot bats from Nevada continued in the fourth as they scored two more runs, taking a 9-1 lead and looking to close out the Lobos on the mercy rule.
The Lobos didn’t answer in the bottom of the fourth but did hold off Nevada in the fifth and put together another run to stay alive.
In the fifth, it was another Casados double to left center that kept the Lobos alive for one more inning. Cheyenne Smith led off with a bunt single. Shelbie Franc moved her to second on a groundout to short. She then moved to third after a sacrifice bunt from DeFlora, putting her in position to score with two outs. Casados came up clutch, taking her second pitch to left center, scoring Smith.
In the sixth, Nevada put together another run, threatening with the mercy rule, going into the bottom of the sixth. The Lobos tried to answer as Callie McGarrigle single up the middle. She moved to second on a groundout but another groundout ended the game.
Casados led the Lobos at the plate, going 3-for-3 with two RBI. As a team, the Lobos pounded out six hits. Chelsea Johnson, McGarrigle and Smith each had a hit.
McPherson took the loss in the circle, dropping to 8-7 on the year. She allowed seven runs, four earned, off eight hits, while striking out two and walking one. Marissa Bethke came in relief for McPherson, pitching 3.1 innings. She allowed three runs off six hits, while walking one.
The Lobos will look to even the series on Saturday. First pitch is set for 1 p.m., and the game will air on the Mountain West Network.