Klitzke Hits Walk-Off as Lobos Sweep Fighting Hawks
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.— The University of New Mexico softball team swept the University of North Dakota at Lobo Softball Field on Tuesday, winning the first with a thrilling walk-off, bases-loaded triple and the second in a dominant offensive performance.
In both games, the starting pitchers went the distance and set season-highs in strikeouts to earn the wins, while the offense scored seven runs in 7-6 and 7-3 finals.
Similarly, in both games the Lobos pushed across three runs in the bottom of the first to get out to an early lead, however, in the first game the Fighting Hawks chipped away to tie and take the lead in the top of the seventh before UNM won in heroic fashion in the bottom half.
Aleyah Wilbon went a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate in the second game with a RBI and Bailey Klitzke led the team with four RBI on the day, including the game-winning triple to walk-off the Lobos in the first game.
On the day, the Lobos outscored the Fighting Hawks 14-9 and outhit the visiting team 16-15. The pitching staff struck out 18 batters between the two games, with a season-high 11 from Kennedy Ferguson in the first game and a season-high seven from Kiana Spencer in the second game.
GAME ONE:
The Lobos struck first in their first-at bats with a two-out rally to gain an early edge. With two outs in the bottom of the first, Andrea Howard drew a walk on a full count, followed by a single by Cameryn O’Grady. Lauren Wilmert kept the inning going with a double to left center to clear the bases and bring in the first two runs of the early morning contest. Klitzke scored Wilmert on a single up the middle to make it 3-0 UNM as UNM scored three runs on three hits.
Ferguson allowed just two hits in the first four innings, including two flawless innings, with five strikeouts, before North Dakota got on the board in the top of the fifth. The Fighting Hawks added another run in the top of the sixth, but also left the bases loaded as Ferguson ended the sixth-inning threat with a strikeout, and scored four in the top of the seventh to claim a 6-3 lead on three hits after an error by Kasey Halleen with two outs extended the inning.
UND brought in Emily Rosas to replace starting pitcher Nikki Pica in the bottom of the seventh, who proceeded to walk the first three batters in the inning to load the bases. Pica re-entered the game to replace Rosas and walked Wilmert to bring in Taylor Jones from third. Wilbon entered the game to pinch run for Wilmert, and the move proved to be crucial as Klitzke stepped to the plate. With a 3-2 count and bases still loaded, the junior hit a shot into the gap in right center to score all three runners on base to give UNM the 7-6 walk-off victory.
North Dakota outhit New Mexico 8-6, but UNM had the edge in walks drawn (9-5) and in batters that pitchers struck out (11-4).
Wilmert went 2-for-2 in the game to go along with two walks and three RBI to lead the Lobos, and was one of three Lobos to record multiple walks in the game. Six UNM hitters reached via walks.
Ferguson threw 133 pitches, 76 of which were strikes, on 7.0 innings and 35 batters faced for her ninth complete game of the season. Her strikeouts on Tuesday nearly doubled her previous season high of six that she recorded twice.
GAME TWO:
The offensive momentum carried over to the second game as the Lobos quickly jumped out to a 3-0 lead after one, with all three runs coming with no outs.
After Spencer tallied two strikeouts in the top of the first to leave two on base, DeFlora led off with a hit-by-pitch and stole second on the first pitch of Wilbon’s at-bat. Wilbon singled through the left side on a 2-2 pitch to score DeFlora and advanced to second on the throw home. Howard followed that with a double to left field, also with a 2-2 count to bring in Wilbon and O’Grady followed that double up with a double of her own to right center to plate Howard for a 3-0 lead. UNM scored three runs on three hits in the inning.
The production would continue into the bottom of the second, starting with a single up the middle by Sydney Broderick. Halleen sacrificed her over on a bunt and Wilbon moved her to third with another single to left. Wilbon stole second to put two runners in scoring position and Howard singled through the right side on a 2-1 count to plate both runs for the 5-0 advantage. UNM scored two runs on three hits.
Spencer gave up a leadoff double in the top of the third, but was able to keep the Fighting Hawks off the board with a line out to DeFlora in center, a fly out to Wilbon in left and a strikeout.
UND got on the board in the top of the fourth, but the Lobos got the run back plus one in the bottom of the fifth on a home run to right field by O’Grady that cleared the bleachers and Wilmert came around to score after a walk, a groundout to first that advanced her to second and a single to center field by Daryn Haslam that brought her home.
O’Grady’s home run was the fourth of the season for the shortstop, which tied the total amount that the junior had all of last year.
The Fighting Hawks added two more runs in the top of the seventh to make it 7-3, which would hold as the final score.
UNM outhit UND 10-7 in the game while also having the edge in runners left on base (UND had eight to UNM’s four). The Lobos were also 2-for-2 in stolen bases with DeFlora and Wilbon successfully recording a steal.
Wilbon led the Lobos with career-high three hits, while Howard, Haslam and O’Grady were 2-for-3. Howard had a team-high three RBI in the game, O’Grady tallied two and Wilbon and Haslam each had one. Two of Howard’s RBI came with two outs.
It is the fourth time this season that Haslam and Howard has posted multiple hits, the eighth for O’Grady, and the first for Wilbon.
Spencer threw her seventh complete game of the season, with 106 pitches and 65 strikes, and 32 batters faced. Spencer notched seven strikeouts for a season high.
On the other side, the seven runs and 10 hits given up by UND starting pitcher Jannay Jones were the most given up in a game on the season for the Fighting Hawk pitcher.
The Lobos (9-21) resume conference play this weekend at home against Nevada. Friday’s game is scheduled for 6 p.m., Saturday at 4 p.m. and Sunday at noon.