LOS ANGELES, Calif.— After battling back from an early 2-0 deficit to tie the game in the bottom of the fourth, The University of New Mexico softball team couldn’t answer a three-run sixth inning by Oregon State as the Lobos fell to the Beavers 5-3 on Saturday afternoon at Smith Field.
Andrea Howard and Cameryn O’Grady were game-changers for the Lobos, each registering clutch hits to drive in UNM’s three runs. Hitting in the two- and three-spot, respectively, Howard went 2-for-3 at the plate with a triple, a walk and a double for an RBI, and O’Grady accounted for two RBI after hitting a double and a single. O’Grady and Howard were responsible for the three extra-base hits on the day for the Lobos.
UNM had several chances to tie or take a lead in the early innings with four leadoff hitters getting on base, but missed opportunities early came back to haunt the Lobos as they couldn’t capitalize and left a total of 12 runners on base in the game, six of which came in the first three innings and four of those coming with the first two batters reaching base. In the first four innings, UNM had runners in scoring position and could only score one run.
OSU outhit UNM 8-6 in the game, but the Lobos were able to reach base six times via a walk compared to just one walk for the Beavers.
Both teams got their bats going early, putting runs on the board in their first at-bats of the game.
Oregon State tallied a one-out, two-run home run by Missy Nunes for an early 2-0 lead, but the Lobos were able to cut the deficit in half in their half of the inning on a one-out triple by Howard, her first of the year and her first since hitting one exactly a year ago against Sacramento State, and a double by O’Grady that scored Howard.
The Lobos had a chance to even the score in the bottom of the second on two walks by Daryn Haslam and MacKenzie Peterson and two passed balls that put both runners in scoring position, however, consecutive strikeouts left the runners on base.
UNM found itself in a similar situation in the bottom of the third with the Lobos getting the first two batters of the inning on board with an OSU error and a single up the middle from Lauren Wilmert, and both runners advanced a base to move into scoring position on a fielder’s choice by Monica Salas, but once again, the Lobos couldn’t bring either runner in and left two more stranded.
A two-out rally in the bottom of the fourth resulted in the Lobos getting the tying run across as Peterson came around to score after a leadoff walk, the freshman’s second walk of the game. After Peterson earned her way on base, the Lobos recorded two quick outs. Peterson was able to move up one base on a passed ball and a Howard walk put two on for O’Grady. The junior shortstop delivered with a single through the right side to score Peterson and Howard moved all the way to third on the play. A fly out to left ended the rally and left two more on base, including the go-ahead run on third.
Oregon State was the next team to score, plating three in the top of the sixth on two unearned runs, and the Lobos were able to get one run back in the bottom half, once again on the bat of Howard. D’Andra DeFlora drew a one-out walk and a Howard double to center field allowed DeFlora to score from first to make it 5-3. The Lobos couldn’t string together anything more as Howard was left standing on second after a pop up to first and a grounder to short ended the inning.
The Beavers went down in order in the top of the seventh with a fly out to Howard in center, a pop up to O’Grady at short and a foul out to Peterson at first. With three outs to work with, the Lobos tried to recall the seventh-inning magic from the day before and found a little bit of life with two outs. Haslam reached base on a walk and Peterson was hit by a pitch to put the tying run on base. Aleyah Wilbon was brought in to pinch hit for Kasey Halleen, but Wilbon was unable to put the ball in play as the Beavers recorded the final out.
In the circle, Kennedy Ferguson pitched another complete game, her second of the tournament and the seventh of the season, striking out three and walking one on 31 batters faced and 103 pitches.
UNM (7-15) closes out the weekend with a final game against host LMU on Sunday at 1:30 p.m. MT.