RENO, NEV — The University of New Mexico softball team put up seven runs against Nevada on Saturday afternoon on the road, but it wasn’t enough as Nevada’s hot bats drove in 21 runs for the victory in game three of the series. UNM finishes the series 1-2 against Nevada and is now 2-4 in Mountain West play.
On the season, the Lobos are 8-24 overall while Nevada improves to 14-15, 3-3 in the Mountain West.
The Lobos threatened in the top of the first when, with one out, junior Sydney Townes walked followed by a single to left field from senior Chelsea Johnson. Both advanced into scoring position on a passed ball and junior D’Andra DeFlora walked to load the bases. The inning concluded with a line-out double play however and the score remained 0-0.
UNM got on the board in the top of the second, taking a 2-0 lead. Junior Monica Salas led off with a walk followed by a single to center field by junior Kasey Halleen to put two on. With one out, freshman Sam Oliver singled to left to load the bases.
With the bases loaded and just one out, sophomore Cameryn O’Grady hit a single that dropped in the hole between the first baseman and the right fielder to drive in Oliver and Halleen, 2-0 Lobos.
Nevada broke the game open in the bottom of the third when they scored 13 runs on 11 hits and one error. All four Lobo pitchers made an appearance in the inning. Sophomore Jensen Main relieved starter Krissy Fortner and was replaced by freshman Alexis Ruel after one batter, a home run to left field. Ruel saw 10 batters, tallied one out and gave up eight runs on five hits before Bethke entered the game. Bethke allowed a single and delivered the third out, a line out to center field. Fortner takes the loss and is now 1-5 on the season.
The Wolf Pack added eight more runs in the bottom of the fourth to make it 21-2 before the Lobos added to their run total in the fifth.
Despite being down by 19, the Lobos refused to give up, fighting back until the very last pitch.
The Lobos scored five runs and batted all the way around the order in the top of the fifth for the 21-7 final.
Pinch hitter Aleyah Wilbon led off with a walk followed by Chelsea Johnson, who doubled to right center and advanced Wilbon to third. Junior D’Andra DeFlora then singled to center field, no outs, to score Wilbon and move Johnson to third, 21-3.
A sacrifice fly by junior Monica Salas scored Johnson, advanced DeFlora to third and moved freshman Andrea Howard (hit by pitch) to second, loading the bases 21-4.
With the bases loaded Nevada’s starting pitcher Julia Jensen walked two straight batters to plate two Lobo runs, 21-6. She was then substituted in the circle for Amanda Geil. Wilbon came to bat again and earned another walk, plating freshman Sydney Broderick, who walked, for the 21-7 final. A groundout followed to close the game.
The Lobos were outhit on the day 18-7. Nevada left seven runners on base compared to eight for the Lobos. UNM was led by O’Grady who drove in three runs on one hit. Chelsea Johnson and Kasey Halleen each registered two hits on the day while DeFlora and freshman Sam Oliver posted one apiece.
UNM returns to action on Thursday, March 29 through Sunday, March 31 for a three-game series against Fresno State at Lobo Softball Field.