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Lobos Lose Home Opener to CSU, 9-7

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.– The University of New Mexico softball team rallied from a four-run deficit in the bottom of the fifth to tie the game at six and then proceeded to take a 7-6 lead on a Taylor Jones home run, however, it was Colorado State that found a late rally in the top of the sixth to regain the lead en route to a 9-7 win on Friday night.

UNM had three hitters record multiple hits in the game, with two apiece from Andrea Howard, Lauren Wilmert and Jones. It was the second time in the last four games that Jones has tallied two hits, which ties her career high in the category. For Wilmert, it is the third-straight multi-hit game and continues a now four-game hitting streak for the junior catcher.

Monica Salas led the team with three RBI, all coming in her lone hit of the evening, a pivotal three-run home run. The senior also posted two walks in her plate appearances, while D’Andra DeFlora also added two walks, both coming on full counts, in her day at the plate.

In their first home game of the season, the Lobos were the first to score in the bottom half of the first with a double to right center by Howard, scoring DeFlora who led off with a walk and advanced to second on a throwing error by the catcher, and giving UNM an early 1-0 lead.


UNM doubled its lead in the bottom of the third with Bailey Klitzke providing the RBI hit on a shot down the first-base line that scored Howard from third. It was one of two RBI that the junior had in the contest.

Colorado State evened up the score on a two-run home run by Corina Gamboa to right field in the top of the fourth and went on to score four runs on three hits and were aided by three Lobo errors in the field for a 6-2 advantage.

After being retired in order in the home half of the fourth, UNM rallied to take the lead in its next at-bats in the bottom of the fifth, with the first three batters reaching base to put the comeback in motion and two home runs. Howard started off the bottom half with a single to right field on a 3-2 pitch and Cameryn O’Grady was walked. Wilmert singled through the left side on the second pitch of her at-bat and Klitzke brought in the first run of the inning on a sacrifice fly to center field. With two on and one out, Salas homered to center field, sending the ball over the wall and the outfielder’s glove for the game-tying three-run home run, the senior’s fourth on the year.


Two batters later, Jones sent a shot that hit the top of the scoreboard in left field and bounced over the wall for the sophomore’s first home run of the season and gave UNM a 7-6 lead in the game. UNM ended the inning scoring five runs on five hits and one error. The home runs by Salas and Jones was just the fourth time all year that UNM has had multiple home runs in a game.


However, Colorado State regained the lead in the next inning with another two-run home run by Gamboa, this time to center field, coming with two outs in the inning.

Wilmert tried to get a two-out rally of UNM’s own in the bottom half with a double to right center but was left stranded on a fly out to end the inning.

CSU added a final run in the top of the seventh after two doubles, and with one final chance, the Lobos had the tying run at the plate with no outs after a four-pitch leadoff walk by Salas, but a 5-4-3 double play ended the threat.

The Rams outhit the Lobos 12-9, but also left one more base runner stranded at 8-7. Of those hits, four came with two outs in an inning for CSU, while five came with two outs for UNM. Of the runs scored, four of CSU’s came with two outs in the inning, with UNM recording two runs with two outs. The Lobos had one more leadoff hitter reach base (4-3) and UNM led in walks by a 5-3 margin.

Kennedy Ferguson started in the circle for UNM, lasting 4.2 innings and throwing 84 pitches, 52 of them going for strikes and facing 27 batters on the day. Kiana Spencer finished the final 2.1 innings with three runs, three hits and 24 pitches thrown, 15 of them for strikes, on 11 batters faced.  Spencer was charged with the loss.

The loss marks the first time in at least 16 years that the Lobos have lost their home opener.

UNM and Colorado State meet again at Lobo Softball Field on Saturday with first pitch at 4 p.m.

 

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