RIVERSIDE, CALIF. — After jumping out to an early 2-0 lead, The University of New Mexico softball team suffered a narrow 4-2 loss to Montana at the UCR Classic on Saturday in its lone game of the day. Senior Chelsea Johnson led the Lobos with three hits and a pair of RBI en route to the loss.
Sophomore Jensen Main started in the circle for the Lobos, pitching 3.0 innings and striking out three batters. She allowed one run on four hits before senior Krissy Fortner entered in relief in the bottom of the fourth inning. Fortner ultimately claims the loss after a three-run sixth inning put Montana on top for good.
The Lobos (2-11) got out to a quick 2-0 lead over Montana (2-10) in the top of the first inning. Sophomore Cameryn O’Grady and junior Sydney Townes led off with a pair of walks. Junior D’Andra DeFlora laid down a successful sacrifice bunt to advance both runners to scoring position and, with one out, Johnson blasted a double to center field to score both O’Grady and Townes, 2-0 Lobos.
Montana scored its first run in the bottom of the third inning when Delene Colburn led off with a homerun to right-center field, 2-1. The play was followed by a single and a walk to put two on base and threaten the Lobo lead, but Main struck out the final two batters, both watching the third strike, to work out of the inning.
Neither team was able to score again until the bottom of the sixth inning. With two outs and two Montana runners on base, both reaching on singles, Fortner intentionally walked Colburn to load the bases and set up for the easy third out. A Lobo fielding error caused a pair of unearned runs to cross the plate to make it 3-2 Montana.
Montana scored once more in the inning on a single to center field before a foul out to junior Kristyn Whitley ended the inning, 4-2.
The Lobos tried to overcome the deficit in the top of the seventh. With one out, O’Grady walked and advanced to second on a wild pitch, but a strikeout and a fly out ended the inning, stranding O’Grady on base for the 4-2 final.
The Lobos were ultimately outhit 8-5 on the day and left seven runners on base.
UNN returns to action on Sunday for a repeat doubleheader with George Washington and UC Riverside at 10 a.m. MT (9 a.m. PT) and 3 p.m. MT (2 p.m. PT).