O'Grady RBI Not Enough as UNM Falls to USF in Extra Innings
UNM-USF BOX (PDF)
TUCSON, Ariz.— In a defensive battle in which the pitchers combined for 18 strikeouts, The University of New Mexico softball team fell 2-1 to the USF Bulls on Sunday morning in a game that had to be decided in extra innings.
Playing just nine hours after scoring the final run to defeat UIC 13-5 in six innings, and coming off of back-to-back games on Saturday night, the Lobos were back on the field for their final game of the Hillenbrand Invitational.
It wasn’t until the sixth inning that either team was able to record a run, with the Lobos striking first in the top of the inning on a Cameryn O’Grady double. However, down to their final three outs in the bottom of the seventh, the Bulls tallied the equalizer to extend the game.
UNM (3-5) had four hits in the contest, only one of them going for extra bases on O’Grady’s double that led to the lone Lobo run. D’Andra DeFlora, Monica Salas and Maggie Buckholz each posted a single in the game for the other hits.
The Lobos drew four walks, compared to just two for the Bulls (4-6), with Andrea Howard, DeFlora, Buckholz and Taylor Jones all reaching base via a walk.
In the circle, freshman Kennedy Ferguson pitched a complete game, going 7.1 innings and giving up two runs, none of them earned, on six hits. The right-hander recorded a season-high six strikeouts while only walking two hitters on a total of 31 batters faced.
After both teams retired the side in order in the first and UNM went down in order in the top half of the second, USF notched the first two hits of the game on singles by Macy Cook and Megan Pierro. The Bulls moved both runners into scoring position, but a Ferguson strikeout eliminated the threat and kept the game scoreless.
The Lobos had their first scoring opportunity in the top of the fourth after consecutive walks by Howard and DeFlora to start the inning gave UNM its first baserunners of the game. A deep fly ball by O’Grady allowed Howard to tag to third on the play and a grounder to second by Lauren Wilmert moved DeFlora to second. The Lobos were unable to capitalize however as Salas flied out to left for the third out.
It wasn’t until the top of the fifth that Buckholz recorded the first hit for UNM on a leadoff single to right field. Jones drew a walk to put runners on first and second with one out, but a pop up and a foul out prevented anything more for UNM.
In the bottom half of the fifth, USF’s leadoff hitter reached on a muffed throw by Wilmert at first, however, Salas negated any momentum the Bulls tried to create on the next play. Salas caught the attempted USF bunt and threw to first to beat the runner trying to get back to the bag for the double play. A groundout to Ferguson ended the inning with the game still scoreless.
It took just two hits in the top of the sixth to put UNM on the board, with DeFlora hitting a single through the left side for UNM’s third-straight leadoff hitter to get on base. O’Grady delivered on the next at-bat with a double to right center that allowed DeFlora to easily score from first for a 1-0 UNM advantage.
The Bulls made a pitching change, replacing starting pitcher Nicole Doyle with Georgina Corrick. The Lobos welcomed Corrick with a single to center field by Salas and walk by Buckholz to load the bases with one out. A force out at home and a Jones strikeout prevented the Lobos from expanding their lead any further.
USF put pressure on the Cherry and Silver in the bottom half of the inning, moving a leadoff walk all the way to third on a sacrifice bunt and a grounder to Jones at second, but the Lobos got out of the inning on a grounder to Salas at third to maintain a 1-0 lead.
The Lobos couldn’t manufacture any hits in the top of the seventh, however, the same couldn’t be said for the Bulls in the bottom half as USF tied the game at one in the bottom of the inning.
A leadoff walk reached third after a fielder’s choice and fielding error by O’Grady at short. A sacrifice fly to Howard in center field allowed the runner to tag from third. Ferguson recorded the second out of the inning with a final strikeout and the final out of the inning came from Salas stepping on third on the unassisted groundout after a bunt single to Ferguson put runners on first and second.
For the first time this season, the Lobos played extra innings, with DeFlora placed on second to begin the eighth. O’Grady led off the inning with a strikeout, however, DeFlora was able to reach third on a wild pitch. MacKenzie Peterson was brought in as a pinch hitter for Wilmert, but she struck out swinging. A wild pitch during Salas’ at-bat put DeFlora in motion as she tried to make a break for home, but ultimately was forced back to third, sliding safely back into the bag. DeFlora was left stranded on third after a Salas strikeout ended UNM’s opportunity to regain the lead.
USF took advantage in the bottom of the eighth, using a sacrifice bunt to advance its runner on second. Bethaney Keen brought in the winning run on the next at-bat with a hit to center field.
Sunday’s morning game concluded the Hillenbrand Invitational for UNM, with the Lobos now off to Hawaii for the Hawaii Invitational. The Lobos will play a single game against Hawaii on Wednesday at 9 p.m. MT before beginning the four-game tournament against DePaul on Thursday night at 6:30 p.m. MT.