TEMPE, ARIZ. — The University of New Mexico softball team split a pair of contests to open the 2018 season on Friday at the Kajikawa Classic hosted by Arizona State University in Tempe, Ariz. First-year head coach Paula Congleton earned her first Division I victory, guiding her alma mater to a 4-1 win over St. Mary’s.
“We got off to a rough start with first-game jitters against Utah,” head coach Paula Congleton said. “However, I was pleased to see that our team was able to bounce back for the second game with better defense and hitting. (Freshman) Alexis Ruel threw a complete game against St. Mary’s for her first collegiate win and it was a great finish to the first day.”
Game 1 – New Mexico 0, #15 Utah 17 – Box Score (PDF)
As part of the Lobos’ tough opening schedule, UNM (1-1) took on No. 15 Utah (1-1) early on Saturday, falling 17-0. Sophomore Jensen Main took the loss for UNM, giving up 13 hits and five earned runs while walking just two batters over 4.0 innings. Main also collected five strikeouts.
Offensively, senior Chelsea Johnson led the Lobos with UNM’s only hit, a double in the bottom of the second inning.
The Lobos held the Utes to just one run in the first inning before Utah exploded for 11 runs in the top of the second to put the game out of reach. The inning began with a leadoff single and included seven hits, three errors and no runners left on the bases.
Utah was led by BreOnna Castaneda who tallied three hits in four at bats for three RBI and a pair of runs.
Game 2 – New Mexico 4, St. Mary’s 1 – Box Score (PDF)
Freshman Alexis Ruel tallied her first collegiate victory over St. Mary’s, helping lead the Lobos to a 4-1 victory. Ruel pitched a complete game posting a pair of strikeouts, allowing six hits and one run (unearned) in 7.0 innings.
The Lobos jumped out to a 3-0 advantage in the top of the second when junior Kristyn Whitley led off with a double down the right line. With one out, junior Kasey Halleen singled and advanced to second on the throw, advancing Whitley to third. The pair was followed by a walk from freshman Sam Oliver to load the bases.
Junior Sydney Townes singled to drive in Whitley before junior D’Andra DeFlora stepped to the plate for another single to score Townes and advance Oliver to third. Oliver and Halleen scored on the play due to a St. Mary’s fielding error in the outfield.
The Lobos struck once more in the top of the seventh when Johnson launched a one-out, solo homer over the center field fence for her second hit of the day.
St. Mary’s notched its only run in the bottom of the seventh as the squad attempted a comeback. With two outs, a single put Lelani Huey on first before she stole second, advanced to third on a throwing error and scored on a passed ball.
Leading UNM’s offense was Townes who tallied a pair of hits and an RBI. Johnson, DeFlora, Whitley, Halleen and freshman Taylor Jones each added another to tally seven hits for UNM compared to six for St. Mary’s.
The Lobos are set to return to action on Saturday, February 10, as they continue the Kajikawa Classic. UNM will face No. 24 Oklahoma State at 7:30 p.m. before taking on No. 3 Oregon on Sunday at 11:30 a.m. UNM will complete the tournament against No. 7 Arizona on Sunday at 2 p.m.