UNM GAME NOTES | UTEP NOTES | CREIGHTON NOTES | NMSU NOTES | LIVE STATS (UTEP) | LIVE STATS (CREIGHTON) | LIVE STATS (NMSU)
ALBUQUEQUE, N.M.– The University of New Mexico softball team opens the 2019 season this Friday and Saturday in Las Cruces at the NM State Invitational.
The Lobos will play three games on the weekend, with one on Friday and two on Saturday. UNM’s season opener against UTEP is scheduled for Friday at 1:30 p.m. MT, while the Lobos face Creighton on Saturday at 10 a.m. followed by a contest against New Mexico State at 3 p.m. All games will be played at NM State Softball Complex.
Head Coach Paula Congleton enters her second season with the Lobos, and does so with 10 returners and nine new additions on the roster. Of those nine new players, seven are freshmen and two are transfers, and includes an entirely new pitching group.
In the circle, the Lobos field a new unit with junior left-handed pitchers Bailey Klitzke and Kiana Spencer, both of which transferred from other programs, as well as freshman right-hander Kennedy Ferguson.
Returning for the Lobos are eight starters from 2018, led by All-Mountain West Second Team honoree Andrea Howard, who is making the move from utility to outfielder in her second season, shortstop Cameryn O’Grady and outfielder D’Andra DeFlora. Last season, Howard was second on the team in batting average (.313) and slugging percentage (.534) with O’Grady third (.301) and (.524), respectively. DeFlora was fourth in slugging percentage (.379). O’Grady also led the team in runs scored (31), doubles (12), triples (four) and walks drawn (32) and was second in total bases (75). On the base paths, O’Grady was 4-for-4 in stolen bases. Howard and DeFlora tied for second on the team in home runs with seven, with O’Grady fourth with four.
LONG TIME GONE
The Lobos begin the season with five non-conference tournaments on the road, spanning from Las Cruces to Tucson, Ariz., to Honolulu, Hawaii to two trips to Southern California, followed by a conference series at San Diego State.
UNM’s home opener isn’t scheduled until March 22 against MW opponent Colorado State, the latest home opener in at least 15 years.
In the first six weeks of the season, the Lobos will have traveled over 10,900 miles roundtrip (5451 miles each way) and played 26 games before their first pitch at Lobo Softball Field.
STARTING OFF STRONG
UNM is 25-16 in season openers, including 3-2 in the last five years.
The last time the Lobos won their season opener was Feb. 10, 2017, a 5-0 win over Seattle.
In the last 10 years, the best start on opening weekend for the Lobos have been 5-0, achieved in 2012, and a 3-0 start in 2011.
SCOUTING UTEP
The season opener will mark the first of two meetings between the Lobos and Miners in 2019.
UTEP concluded the 2018 season with a 21-33 record, 10-14 in conference, just missing out on the C-USA Tournament. UTEP was 4-10 in neutral games.
Last season, the Miners hit .286 as a team, scoring 229 runs. UTEP allowed 316 runs, 271 of them earned, and had a team ERA of 5.51. The pitching staff gave up 419 hits, 39 home runs, and walked 282 batters while striking out 233.
This season, the Miners were picked 10th in the C-USA Preseason Poll.
The 2019 roster consists of 14 returners and six newcomers. The returning statistical leaders are Pamala Baber (.326 BA), Cortney Smith (44 hits), Ariana Valles (24 RBIs) and Ariel Blair (10-10 SB). In the circle, Julia Wright and Kira McKechnie pitched 134.1 innings, with McKechnie picking up nine wins. Wright led in strikeouts (97) and ERA (4.69).
SCOUTING CREIGHTON
Creighton was picked as favorite in the BIG EAST Softball Preseason Coaches’ Poll, receiving five first-place votes and 43 points.
The Bluejays are coming off of a 28-15 season, going 12-3 in conference, losing in the BIG EAST Championship game 6-2 to DePaul. Creighton was 9-4 last season in neutral games.
CU was 13th in the NCAA in batting average (.316), 21st in scoring (5.81) and 22nd in slugging percentage (.477) in 2018.
Creighton has 16 returners from last season while adding seven newcomers to the roster.
The Bluejays are led by pitcher Kiele Miller, who earned All-BIG EAST Second Team and BIG EAST All-Tournament team outfielder Ashley Cantu.
SCOUTING NMSU
The Lobos and Aggies will meet a total of four times in 2019, but just once in Albuquerque.
In 2018, UNM and NMSU met twice with UNM falling 12-7 in Albuquerque but responded with a 13-4, six-inning mercy rule victory in Las Cruces. The victory was UNM’s first over the Aggies since March 19, 2014.
The Aggies were picked as the favorites to win the WAC, receiving five first-place votes and 35 points. Kelsey Horton was picked as the WAC Preseason Player of the Year with Kayla Green selected as the Preseason Pitcher of the Year. Nikki Butler and Victoria Castro were named to the Preseason All-WAC Team.
NMSU is coming off of its fourth-straight WAC regular-season after a 29-24 overall and an 11-4 conference record.
The Aggies were eighth in the NCAA in slugging percentage (.506), 13th in home runs per game (1.09), 18th in batting average (.311) and 22nd in doubles per game (1.47) in 2018.
HOW TO FOLLOW
All games will be available on live stats with the links posted above. For those planning on attending the games, full session passes are $20. Day passes are $12 and single game prices are $7. Kids 12 and under get in free.