ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – The University of New Mexico softball team dropped a pair of games to San Josè State on Sunday, falling 10-1 in game one and 7-2 in game two. The Lobos are now 20-23 on the year and 6-12 in the Mountain West.
In game one, the Lobos did quite get the offense going as they only pounded out five hits. The Lobos left a total of seven on base.
The Lobos lone run came in the third inning. With two outs, Shelbie Franc reached on an error and advanced to third on the Lobos’ first hit of the game by Cheyenne Smith, a single to center. Franc would then score on Jasmine Casados single through the left side.
In the next four innings, the Lobos left at least one runner on, except in the sixth when the Lobos went down in order.
San Josè State got out to a quick 6-0 lead in the first off freshman Jensen Main. The Lobos made a pitching change, going to Marissa Bethke. She kept the Spartans scoreless for the next five innings until they scored four more runs to take a 10-1 win.
Main took the loss for the Lobos, dropping to 7-7 on the year. She allowed six runs, off five hits. Bethke allowed four runs off 14 hits.
In game two, the Lobos had a little more offense putting together a total of eight hits. But once again the Lobos left too many on base, leaving 11 on for the game.
The Spartas put up a run in the first but the Lobos matched it in the bottom of the inning. Smith ripped a one-out triple to right center and scored on Chelsea Johnson’s two out single.
Tess McPherson kept the Spartans off balance until the fourth inning when they took a 2-1 lead. After a scoreless fifth, the Spartans put together five runs in the sixth. The Lobos made a change, going to Krissy Fortner to get out of the inning.
Fortner shut down the Spartans in the seventh, which allowed the Lobos to try and stay alive. A run came across for UNM but it wasn’t enough to get the win. Franc led off the inning with a double to left center and later scored on Lauren Wilmert’s single through the left side.
McPherson took the loss in the circle, falling to 8-11 on the year. She allowed seven runs off 10 hits while striking out three. Fortner finished two innings with a strikeout and a walk.
On the day, Smith led the way, going 4-for-8. Wilmert, Doris Smith and Shelbie Franc each had two hits in the two games, including each having a double.
The Lobos face their final non-conference opponent of the season on Tuesday, facing Rio Grande Rival New Mexico State on Tuesday at the Lobo Softball Field at 5 p.m. A live stream will be available on the Mountain West Network.