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TUCSON, Ariz.—The University of New Mexico softball team split the second day of the Hillenbrand Invitational with both results coming by way of the run-rule.
While the Lobos struggled to score runs in the first game against No. 9 Arizona in a 15-1 defeat, UNM had no issues in the second game against UIC, recording 11 hits for a 13-5 result.
GAME TWO:
The University of New Mexico Lobos closed the evening at the Hillenbrand Invitational with a 13-5 win, defeating the UIC Flames in six innings after scoring a combined nine runs in the fifth and sixth with seven runs coming in the bottom of the sixth.
Saturday’s night game marked the second time this season that UNM has won a run-rule game, with the first instance being against Creighton by the score of 8-0. The 13 runs scored was the second-most runs by the Lobos this season, second to the 15 runs scored in the season opener versus UTEP.
Freshman Maggie Buckholz led the Lobos with seven RBI after going 3-for-4 from the plate. In her first at-bat of the game in the bottom of the first, Buckholz hit a grand slam for her first collegiate home run and closed the game in the bottom of the sixth with a two-run triple.
For comparison, entering Saturday’s games, junior shortstop Cameryn O’Grady led the Lobos with seven RBI on the season.
The number is also significant in that it was the first time that UNM had a player with seven RBI in a game since May 8, 2015, when Lisa Rodrigues achieved the feat against San Jose State.
O’Grady contributed two RBI on a double in the sixth, and Andrea Howard and Taylor Jones each tallied an RBI, both of which also came in the sixth.
Bailey Klitzke earned the win, throwing a complete game for the Lobos to move to 2-1 on the season. The left-hander gave up five runs, four of which were earned, on seven hits, and tied her season high in strikeouts with eight on 32 batters faced.
On the other side, Allie Trudeau was charged with the loss after going 5.0 innings and allowing eight runs on six hits, seven runs of which were earned. The right-handed pitcher recorded two strikeouts and walked seven out of 27 batters faced.
UNM (3-4) outhit UIC (2-7) 11-7 in the game and left four baserunners on compared to nine for the Flames. Lauren Wilmert had a career-high two hits in the game, both singles.
Six of the Lobos’ RBI came with two-outs in the inning as the Cherry and Silver went 5-for-9 in such situations. UNM was also 7-for-12 with runners in scoring position and 1-for-1 with the bases loaded.
UIC was the first to put runs on the scoreboard in the top of the first, scoring three runs on two hits and one error. The Flames’ leadoff hitter singled to Klitzke and a one-out walk put runners on first and second. The runners moved up a base on a wild pitch, however, Kayla Wedl hit a triple to right center in her at-bat to score the runners. The following batter reached on a throwing error by Monica Salas at third to allow Wedl to score.
The Lobos responded in the bottom half of the first, with three walks by D’Andra DeFlora, O’Grady and Salas to load the bases for Buckholz. The designated player hit a two-out grand slam to clear the bases and give UNM the 4-3 lead. It was the first home run for Buckholz on the season and the first hit of the game for the Lobos. UNM scored four runs on two hits in the inning.
UIC tied the game in the top of the third on a bases-loaded walk and took the lead on a fielding error by MacKenzie Peterson at first that allowed Kayla Pociejewski to score to give the Flames a 5-4 lead. The Lobos prevented any further runs from scoring with a throw home on the play to throw out Skylar Ek, and would be the last runs that the Lobos would give up in the game.
While the defense shut down the Flames in the fourth, fifth and sixth, the Lobos offense got going late in the game to swing control back in UNM’s favor.
The Lobos had a chance to tie the game in the bottom of the fourth on a two-out double by Howard, however, Sydney Townes was thrown out at the plate to end the inning after attempting to score from first after reaching base with a walk.
Klitzke was responsible for all three outs in the top of the fifth, two of which came on strikeouts, and it was Buckholz who came through in the bottom half to give UNM the lead back for good.
O’Grady reached base on a fielder’s choice and advanced to second on a single by Wilmert to put two Lobos on. After a fly out to left field by Salas for the second out of the inning, Buckholz hit a single up the middle to score O’Grady from second and Aleyah Wilbon, who entered the game to pinch run for Wilmert, scored on a throwing error to make it 6-5 UNM.
UIC threatened in the top of the sixth with runners on second and third behind a hit-by-pitch, a walk and two stolen bases, but Klitzke kept them off the board with a final strikeout.
The Lobo offense dominated in the bottom of the sixth, posting seven runs on five hits to reach the eight-run margin that forced the run rule.
The inning started with back-to-back walks by Jones and Townes followed by a Howard single to right field to score Jones from second. DeFlora grounded out to third for the first out of the inning, but from there, the Lobos reached base in the next four at-bats to extend the lead from 7-5 to 12-5. O’Grady doubled down the left-field line to score Howard and Townes and a Wilmert single in the next at-bat advanced O’Grady to third, but a fielding error by the left fielder allowed O’Grady to score. Salas walked to put Wilmert on second and Buckholz tripled to right center to score Salas and Wilmert. With two outs in the inning, Jones recorded her second at-bat of the inning, singling to left field to score Buckholz to put the run-rule in effect.
UNM closes out the Hillenbrand Invitational with an early morning game versus South Florida on Sunday at 9 a.m. MT.
GAME ONE:
The Arizona Wildcats were the aggressors from the start, and while the Lobos had their opportunities early on, it was the Wildcats who put the runs on the board early to put the game out of reach.
In the top of the first, the Lobos found ways to get on base, with a leadoff walk from Andrea Howard and a single from Cameryn O’Grady. A Lauren Wilmert groundout advanced the Lobos up to second and third, but Monica Salas grounded out to third to end the inning and leave two Lobos on base.
Arizona took a 4-0 lead in the bottom of the inning on a two-run home run just two batters in, as well as a sacrifice fly to center with bases loaded and a single up the middle that scored a run. It would prove to be all the runs the home team would need as the Lobos were kept off the scoreboard until the fifth and final inning.
After Aleyah Wilbon reached base on a fielding error by the third baseman, Taylor Jones singled to move Wilbon all the way to third. MacKenzie Peterson reached base in her at-bat following another fielding error, this time by the second baseman, which allowed Wilbon to score for UNM’s only run, which went down as unearned.
UNM tallied just four hits in the contest, all singles by DeFlora, Jones, Salas and O’Grady.
The Lobos used all three pitchers in the game, with Kiana Spencer starting in the circle and going 1.1 innings. The junior left-handed pitcher gave up seven earned runs on six hits and walked three on 13 batters faced, and was charged with the loss.