LAS VEGAS, NEV. — In back-to-back games on Friday, The University of New Mexico softball team gave up four runs in the top of the first inning before holding their opponents to four or less throughout the remainder of the game. The Lobos fell to BYU in game one 8-1 before dropping a 5-1 final against Hawai’i.
Junior D’Andra DeFlora scored both runs for the Lobos on the day, the first off of her second homerun of the season in game one, the second after reaching base on a single in the bottom of the fourth in game two. DeFlora leads UNM on the season in runs scored (3), RBI (3) and home runs (2).
The Lobos fall to 1-6 overall while BYU improves to 4-4 and Hawai’i moves to 1-2.
Game 1 – New Mexico 1, BYU 8 – Box Score (PDF)
Sophomore Jensen Main started in the circle for the Lobos against previously-ranked BYU, pitching 2.1 innings and allowing five hits and six runs. Senior Krissy Fortner entered the game in relief and completed the remaining 4.2 innings.
BYU started out with a bang, putting up four runs in the first inning on three straight singles and a two-out, three-run homer by Caitlyn Alldredge.
The Lobos held the Cougars scoreless in the second, finishing with a swift double play for the second and third outs of the inning. With a walked runner on first base, junior Kasey Halleen snagged a hard grounder at second and flicked it to shortstop Cameryn O’Grady. O’Grady tagged base and fired to freshman Andrea Howard at first for the flawless play.
BYU scored another pair of runs in the top of the third when Main hit the leadoff batter, followed by a walk. After a hard BYU single up the middle brought in a run, a sacrifice bunt advanced runners to second and third before a walk loaded the bases. One more batter was hit by a pitch to advance a runner across the plate, making it 6-0 BYU. It was then that senior Krissy Fortner entered the game, ending the inning on a foul out and a strikeout.
Fortner collected six strikeouts in her 4.2 innings.
In the bottom of the third, DeFlora got the Lobos on the board with her second homerun in six games. DeFlora led off the inning and was followed by a walk from Howard. Howard advanced to second when sophomore Lauren Wilmert walked with two outs, but a Lobo flyout ended the inning, stranding Howard and Wilmert.
The Lobos held BYU through the fourth, fifth and sixth innings, but the Cougars struck once more in the top of the seventh on a one-out solo homer to center field, followed by a double. With two outs, a Lobo fielding error allowed the runner to come home from second for the 8-1 final.
Game 2 – New Mexico 1, Hawai’i 5 – Box Score (PDF)
Freshman Alexis Ruel appeared in her fourth collegiate game against Hawai’i on Friday, her third start. She pitched to just three batters however, before Fortner replaced her in the circle to tally 7.0 innings.
Once again, the Lobos were the home team in their second game of the day that kicked off an hour later than expected under the lights. Hawai’i got out to a hot start in the top of the first, leading off with a double down the left line before Ruel walked the second batter to put runners on first and second.
A three-run homer followed with no outs to put Hawai’i up 3-0 early. Fortner once again entered in relief on the day, allowed one more solo homer before striking out her next batter. After a walk, the final two outs were back-to-back flyouts to escape the inning.
The Lobos battled, keeping Hawai’i scoreless through the next five innings.
In the bottom of the fourth inning, DeFlora led off with a rip up the middle that bounced off the pitcher’s glove and continued to the grass. With DeFlora on first, Howard followed with a near-perfect sacrifice bunt to advance DeFlora to second. Howard ran it out, nearly reaching first safely on the play.
DeFlora then took a risky move when Hawai’i’s catcher dropped the ball at her feet. DeFlora took off for third with the throw reaching the base in plenty of time, however the Hawai’i third baseman missed the tag and DeFlora remained on base.
Senior Chelsea Johnson followed up with a flyout to right field and DeFlora looked tempted to move, but she held up with two outs. O’Grady stepped to the plate and blasted a double that scored DeFlora to make it 4-1. O’Grady was stranded on base after a groundout to short.
Hawai’i threatened to extend its lead in the top of the fifth. With two outs and a pair of runners on base, DeFlora caught a deep ball on the warning track to shut down the attack, still 4-1 Hawai’i.
In the top of the seventh, freshman Taylor Jones made an outstanding catch deep in right to preserve the three-run deficit, but Hawai’i’s Nicole Lopez hit her second homer of the game, a bomb over the left-field fence, for the final score of 5-1.
The Lobos return to action on Saturday, February 17, as they take on UTEP at 12:15 p.m. MT (11:15 a.m. PT) and South Dakota at 2:30 p.m. MT (1:30 p.m. PT). Fans can follow both games live online at lobos.statbroadcast.com.