Box Score | 2017 Season Statistics
Lobo Hitters Star in 10-2 Win Over Santa Clara
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — The New Mexico softball team rapped out 14 hits including a perfect 3-for-3 evening from Chelsea Johnson as the Lobos defeated the Santa Clara Broncos 10-2 in six innings in what turned out to be the opening game of the Lobo Classic.
Originally, the UNM and Santa Clara game was scheduled to be the third game, but the opening two games, Stony Brook vs. Santa Clara and Stony Brook vs. New Mexico, were cancelled due to the death of Stony Brook sophomore Danni Kemp, who was diagnosed with brain cancer back in the Fall.
While Eight of the nine starters got hits, it was Johnson who provided the muscle out of the designated player spot. In the first she drilled a two-out double to center to place Shelbie Franc with the opening run of the game. In the third she smacked a solo home run over the scoreboard down the left field line to make it 4-0. After walking in the fourth with two out and runners on second and third, she came up again in the sixth and singled in a run, and raced all the way to third after the ball got past center fielder Ellie Fisher, Santa Clara’s fourth error of the game.
That made it 9-2, and Johnson, who was hit by the throw from center, gave way to pinch runner Jordan Gelfand. She scored on a single by Callie McGarrigle to end the contest in the sixth.
That made a winner of Jensen Main, who allowed nine hits just just two runs in six innings of work. Main escaped unscathed in the third inning without a run despite allowing four hits in the inning. Adele Elkind singled but was ruled to have left first early on the next pitch. Two more singles put runners on first and second with two out, and a fourth single, this by Morgan Modesto should have loaded the bases. However, on the hit Eleni Spirakis rounded third, and Franc made a great play on a short hop and threw behind Spirakis, catching her dead to rights to end the inning.
Overall, Main went the distance for the third time this season and lowered her ERA to 2.50 in the process. He allowed two runs, both earned, on nine hits with three walks and two strikeouts.
UNM got three hits and a sacrifice fly from Franc, who just missed a three-run home run on that out. Jensen Main hit for herself and went 2-for-3, as did Michala Erickson.
The Lobo Classic continues Saturday with three games. Stony Brook will return to action playing Santa Clara at 11 a.m., and then Santa Clara plays New Mexico at 1:30 p.m. The day will end with the Lobos hosting Stony Brook at 4 p.m. Due to both the NMAA State Basketball Tournament at WisePies Arena and Lobo baseball, fans are asked to park and enter from the south side of Lobo Field.
NOTES: UNM scored in every inning but the fifth … Main was busy in the field as well with four assists … UNM scored three times on infield singles and a subsequent throwing error allowing a runner on second to score … Franc’s average leaped to .471 with her 3-for-3 day.