Lobos Fall 2-0 in Final Game of Season
LAS VEGAS, Nev.— In the final game of the 2019 season, The University of New Mexico softball team lost 2-0 to UNLV Saturday afternoon.
The Lobos outhit the Rebels 4-3, but it was one hit in the bottom of the fourth that made a difference in the contest.
Four UNM seniors recorded a hit in their last collegiate game with singles from D’Andra DeFlora, Sydney Townes and Monica Salas and a double from Aleyah Wilbon.
In addition, Bailey Klitzke reached base on two of her plate appearances, drawing a walk in the second and reaching on an error by the shortstop in the seventh.
The best scoring chance for either team in the early innings came in the top of the second following a leadoff walk for Klitzke and a sacrifice bunt by DeFlora that moved the junior in to scoring position. Unfortunately, two groundouts ended the inning with a runner left on.
UNM had another chance when Taylor Jones came inches away from giving the Lobos the lead in the top of the third with a hit to deep left field, but the left fielder snagged the ball at the top of the wall before it could clear the fence for the out.
After two spectacular plays at third by Salas in the bottom of the fourth, the Rebels got on the board with a two-run home run to left.
B4 | Monica showing her range at third, catching the line drive!#GoLobos pic.twitter.com/DVwJ30tF2P
— UNM Softball (@UNMLoboSB) May 11, 2019
B4 | This is not a replay!
Salas catches another liner at third on the next at-bat for the second out of the inning.#GoLobos pic.twitter.com/GilHkUNsrR
— UNM Softball (@UNMLoboSB) May 11, 2019
Trailing 2-0 going in to the later stages of the ball game, it was the seniors who stepped up and tried to get the Lobos back in the game.
DeFlora ended the no-hit bid by the Rebels with a single up the middle to lead off the fifth inning but the next three Lobos were retired to leave the senior on first.
In the sixth, Wilbon hit a 2-2 pitch to right field however was thrown out at third trying to stretch a double in to a triple. Townes followed that up with an infield single to the left side of the field but a fly out ended the inning with the Lobos unable to get on the board.
Down to the last three outs, Klitzke reached on an error by the shortstop to lead off the inning and a single to right field on the first pitch to Salas put two with one out. Unfortunately, the next two at-bats resulted in strikeouts to end the rally and the game.
Making her second start of the series, Kiana Spencer pitched her 11th complete game of the season and allowed just three hits in the game while striking out two and walking one. It was the first walk given up on the weekend. Spencer threw 77 pitches on 22 batters faced and of those threw 46 strikes. The junior left-hander retired the side in order in three innings and faced just four batters in two innings.
After giving up the home run in the fourth, Spencer closed out the game retiring the next seven batters.
The Lobos finish the season 12-41, 3-21 in conference play and graduate five seniors in DeFlora, Salas, Wilbon, Townes and Kasey Halleen.