LUBBOCK, TEXAS — The University of New Mexico softball team dropped a pair of games on Saturday to Bowling Green and UTSA despite a homerun by senior Chelsea Johnson for a team-best two RBI on the day.
With the doubleheader loss, the Lobos fall to 3-16 on the season while Bowling Green improves to 10-3 and UTSA moves to 10-8.
Game 1 – New Mexico 3, Bowling Green 7 – BOX SCORE (PDF)
Sophomore Jensen Main started in the circle in game one for UNM, allowing four hits and two runs in 3.0 innings while tallying a pair of strikeouts. Senior Krissy Fortner appeared in her 12th game of the season in the fourth inning and allowed five runs on six hits in 3.0 innings to claim the loss. She is now 1-3 on the season.
The Lobos got the game started in the top of the first when, with two outs, Johnson and junior Kristyn Whitley walked. Junior D’Andra DeFlora blasted a single to right field to score Johnson and advance Whitley to third, 1-0 Lobos. DeFlora was thrown out by the Bowling Green catcher at second base on a steal attempt for the third out and the end of the inning.
In the bottom of the frame, the Falcons tied it up and took the lead on a two-RBI double to left field, scoring a walked batter and one that singled to reach base, 2-1 Bowling Green.
The Lobos once again claimed the lead in the top of the sixth when sophomore Lauren Wilmert led off with a walk. She was replaced on the bases by junior Aleyah Wilbon who scored when Johnson stepped to the plate with her fourth homerun of the season making it 3-2 Lobos.
The Falcons responded in the bottom of the sixth with a five-run inning to make it 7-3. Bowling Green belted three home runs in the inning including one solo and two that drove in two RBI apiece for a four-run advantage.
UNM attempted a comeback in the top of the seventh and was led off by junior Sydney Townes who singled up the middle. She advanced to second when sophomore Cameryn O’Grady singled through the right side to put two on base. With one out, Johnson singled to center field, advancing O’Grady to second and Townes to third. But Townes attempted to go home and was caught as the center-fielder threw her out at the plate. A groundout wrapped up the inning and ended the game.
The Lobos were outhit by Bowling Green 10-7 on the day while BGSU posted one error compared to none for the Lobos.
Game 2 – New Mexico 0, UTSA 8 | 5 Innings – BOX SCORE (PDF)
After falling to UTSA by just one, 3-2, on Friday in the opening day of the J. McHaney Classic, the Lobos were shutout by the Roadrunners in a late game on Saturday evening, 8-0 in five innings.
Just one Lobo registered a hit in the matchup, Wilmert in the top of the second inning.
Redshirt-junior Marissa Bethke started in the circle for the Lobos and allowed four runs on three hits, including a three-RBI double to right center field, in the bottom of the first inning before freshman Alexis Ruel entered in relief in the frame. Ruel registered the final three outs of the inning allowing just one run with the bases loaded.
Ruel ultimately pitched 2.1 innings, allowing the final four runs on four hits of her own, as well as registering pair of strikeouts, before Main entered in the bottom of the third with one out. Main’s first batter singled through the right side to score a pair of runs to make it 8-0 before posting a groundout to close the inning.
The Lobos and Main held UTSA scoreless in the bottom of the fourth, but failed to produce enough runs to overcome the deficit in the top of the fifth to end the game on a mercy rule. Main finished the game allowing two hits in 1.2 innings in six batters faced.
UTSA posted nine hits to just one for UNM and stranded seven runners on base compared to three for the Lobos.
The Lobos will complete the tournament on Sunday, March 4 when they take on Texas Tech at 1 p.m.