LUBBOCK, TEXAS — The University of New Mexico softball team split its opening doubleheader of the J. McHaney Classic hosted by Texas Tech on Friday, falling 3-2 to UTSA before roaring back with a 14-13 victory over Texas Tech in 10 innings on a Chelsea Johnson grand slam in the top of the 10th of game two.
The Lobos were led by Johnson who drove in five runs on four hits and also by sophomore Cameryn O’Grady who tallied seven hits including three doubles and a triple for a pair of RBI and five runs on the day.
Defensively, senior Krissy Fortner tallied six strikeouts in 6.0 innings to help lead the Lobos in the circle.
UNM improves to 3-14 while UTSA improves to 9-6 and Texas Tech slips to 8-7.
Game 1 – New Mexico 2, UTSA 3 – BOX SCORE (PDF)
Sophomore Jensen Main started in the circle for the Lobos in game one, pitching 5.0 innings while allowing three runs on four hits and posting one strikeout. She was relieved by Fortner who completed the final 2.0 innings, allowing one hit while striking out two.
The Lobos threatened early, landing a pair of runners on base in the bottom of the first inning. O’Grady led off with a double and advanced to third on a no-out single by freshman Andrea Howard. When Howard stole second, the Lobos had two runners in scoring position, but three straight outs closed the inning, still 0-0.
New Mexico still struck first, scoring its first run in the bottom of the second inning. Junior Kasey Halleen led off with a single and advanced to second on a successful sacrifice bunt from freshman Sydney Broderick. Freshman Sam Oliver followed with a single to center field, advancing Halleen to third, before junior Sydney Townes reached base on error, scoring Halleen for the early 1-0 advantage.
The Lobos nearly added another run in the frame when, with the bases loaded, Howard put the ball in play. But she reached on a fielder’s choice and the Roadrunner shortstop threw Oliver out at home.
UNM held UTSA scoreless through four innings, but in the top of the fifth, the Roadrunners enjoyed a breakout frame, tallying three runs to take a 3-1 lead. With two outs, Kylea Nix, who had reached on a walk, advanced to second when Celeste Loughman reached base on a bunted single. A three-run homer over the left-center field fence from Bailee Baldwin gave UTSA the lead.
Neither team was able to score again until the Lobos posted a rally attempt in the bottom of the seventh. UNM scored one when O’Grady blasted another double, this time down the right field line, with just one out. After a pop-up to shortstop, O’Grady crossed the plate with two outs when Johnson singled to right center. Johnson attempted to make it a double, making the aggressive move to second, but she was tagged by the UTSA shortstop after a throw in from center field.
UNM completed the game errorless and was led by O’Grady’s three hits. Howard, Johnson, Halleen, Broderick and Oliver each contributed the rest of the Lobos’ eight hits, compared to just five for UTSA.
Game 2 – New Mexico 14, Texas Tech 13 | 10 Innings – BOX SCORE (PDF)
Freshman Alexis Ruel took to the circle at the onset of game two, allowing seven hits and five runs in 3.0 innings. She was ultimately replaced by redshirt-junior Marissa Bethke, who allowed two more runs in 3.0 innings before Fortner entered for 4.0 innings. Fortner allowed six runs on six hits but tallied four strikeouts en route to her first win of the season.
Fortner has appeared in 11 games for the Lobos and is 1-2 overall on the season.
Texas Tech jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second before the Lobos responded with three in the top of the third, 3-2 Lobos.
The Red Raiders responded in the bottom of the frame however with three of their own, demonstrating the first inkling that the game was about to be the highest scoring game of the Lobo season, 5-3 TTU.
Neither team scored again until Texas Tech added a pair of runs in the fifth to get out to a four-run lead, 7-3.
Down by four with just one inning left, the Lobos rallied in the top of the seventh for four runs to knot the score at 7-7.
Texas Tech opened the inning with a pitcher swap and O’Grady and Howard shot back-to-back singles to opposite fields. With one out, the pair advanced on a passed ball to sit in scoring position and sophomore Lauren Wilmert blasted a single up the middle, advancing to second on the throw, to score Howard and O’Grady, 7-5 TTU.
With two outs, Halleen walked and Main, pinch hitting for junior Monica Salas, doubled to left field to score Halleen and Wilmert to tie it up, 7-7, forcing extra innings.
The Lobos carried the rally into the top of the eighth, scoring three more runs with the international tie-breaker rule in effect. O’Grady tripled with the placed runner, Oliver, on second and Townes on first, reaching on single. O’Grady scored both to take a 9-7 advantage. Howard followed with a sacrifice fly to right field to score O’Grady and make it 10-7 Lobos.
Texas Tech responded in the bottom of the frame with three runs of their own, tying it up again and forcing a ninth. Neither team was able to score in the inning and the teams went into the 10th.
In the final inning of the game with two outs and the bases loaded, senior Chelsea Johnson stepped up and blasted a grand slam over the right field fence to give the Lobos a four-run advantage, 14-10.
Texas Tech added three more in the bottom of the 10th to threaten the Lobo lead, but a lineout to O’Grady at shortstop closed the inning for the 14-13 final.
Texas Tech outhit the Lobos 17-13 and utilized four pitchers in the loss. The Lobos also completed game two errorless in the field, marking an errorless day for UNM.
The Lobos return to action on Saturday, March 3 when they take on Bowling Green and UTSA in another doubleheader at 10:30 a.m. and 6 p.m. MT.