LAS VEGAS, NEV. — The University of New Mexico softball team closed out its second tournament of the season with a 5-2 victory over CSUN on Sunday afternoon in Las Vegas. Sophomore Jensen Main earned her first win of the season in the circle and blasted a three-run homer in the top of the third to get UNM out to the lead.
The Lobos (2-8) posted five runs on five hits while committing no errors. CSUN slips to 4-6 on the season after tallying six hits on the day.
The Lobos threatened in the top of the first, loading the bases. Freshman Sam Oliver led off with a walk, followed by a strikeout before senior Chelsea Johnson battled in the box for another walk. With runners on first and second, sophomore Cameryn O’Grady laid down a sacrifice bunt down the third base line, and beat out the throw to load the bases. An infield fly and a groundout closed the inning.
The Lobos took the lead in the top of the third when Main blasted a three-run homer over the center field fence. Oliver led off with a double deep down the right line before, with two outs, O’Grady walked. Main stepped up with runners on first and second for the homer, the first of her career.
CSUN responded in the bottom of the frame, leading off with a pair of singles, one to left field where Oliver attempted a diving catch, the second hard hit through the left side. A sacrifice bunt to third base advanced both runners before a well-placed bunt between the catcher and pitcher with two outs scored a run, 3-1 Lobos.
The Lobos extended their lead to four in the top of the fourth, adding two runs on a Chelsea Johnson triple to make it 5-1. Junior Kasey Halleen led off with a walk followed by back-to-back strikeouts. It was then that the Lobos rallied. Junior D’Andra DeFlora reached on an error by the Matadors’ shortstop to put two on base and Johnson followed to drive them both in, tallying two RBI.
The UNM defense retired six straight batters through the fourth and fifth innings and landed on base again in the top of the sixth.
Halleen led off with a double to center field followed by two straight outs. After DeFlora was hit by a pitch, Lobos had runners on the corners, but a flyout closed the inning.
In the bottom of the frame, CSUN added one. Kicking off the inning at the top of the order, leadoff batter Savannah Horvath walked before Kira Cauley singled on a sacrifice bunt attempt, putting a pair of runners on with no outs.
Both runners advanced on a passed ball, just before Main registered two straight strikeouts. Jaymi Steward stepped to the plate and sent a hard-hit ball through the left side, just past Lobo shortstop O’Grady that scored Horvath from third.
Main worked out of the inning, forcing a pop-up to first base to close it.
Both teams stranded a pair of runners on base in the seventh for the 5-2 final.
All five hits were from different Lobos including Oliver, Johnson, O’Grady, Main and Halleen. Main led the Lobos with three RBI on the day while posting four strikeouts from inside the circle. She also registered her second complete game of the season with the win.
The Lobos return to action on Friday, Feb. 23 at the UCR Classic hosted by the University of California – Riverside. UNM will have a pair of doubleheaders on Friday and Sunday against George Washington and UC Riverside and will take on Montana on Saturday.