Lobos Fall in Five to Broncos
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.— A day after The University of New Mexico softball team came back from an early 3-0 deficit to win 7-4, the Lobos tried to create a similar comeback before ultimately falling to Boise State in the second game of the series on Friday afternoon in five innings.
D’Andra DeFlora and Lauren Wilmert both went 2-for-3 on the day to lead the Lobos at the plate, with DeFlora tallying two singles and Wilmert recording her team-high seventh home run and her 11th multi-hit game of the season. Wilmert’s three-run home run gave the junior her ninth multiple RBI game.
Of the five runs scored by UNM, Wilmert led with three, while DeFlora was responsible for one and Monica Salas was responsible for one, which came on a solo home run in the second for Salas’ fifth home run on the year.
Cameryn O’Grady extended her hitting streak to four game with a double in the third, the 14th of the season for the Lobo shortstop. O’Grady also reached base with a walk in the first for a 1-for-2 outing at the plate, the seventh-straight game that the junior has reached base.
The offense for both teams were on early as the Broncos got on the board in the top of the first with the first two hitters reaching base. A single up the middle by Jessica McKay scored the first run and a three-run home run by Bradie Fillmore made it 4-0 Broncos.
UNM responded with a two-out rally started by Andrea Howard’s single to right field. O’Grady drew a walk after working a full count and Wilmert delivered on a three-run home run to right field to make it a one-run game.
However, BSU took advantage of two errors by the Lobos in the top of the second to score seven runs on four hits and extend its lead to 11-3.
The Lobos attempted to cut into the Bronco lead in the bottom half, aided by a leadoff home run by Salas. Sydney Broderick was issued a walk after fouling off the first pitch and taking four-straight balls, and Taylor Jones hit a double to left field, her first of the season, to put two runners in scoring position with no outs. BSU made a pitching change, bringing in Veronica Lynch for starting pitcher Gianna Mancha. DeFlora welcomed the right-handed pitcher with a single through the left side of the infield to score Broderick from third and move Jones to third to make it 11-5, but the Broncos ended any more chances for UNM to score.
BSU added two more runs in the fourth on a home run and pushed across four more runs in the fifth on three hits and two errors to conclude the scoring at 17-5. The Lobos finished with a season-high five errors in the game.
UNM left five runners on base to four for BSU, while BSU outhit UNM 14-8. The Lobos drew three walks to just one for the Broncos, with Broderick, O’Grady and pinch hitter Sydney Townes all tallying one.
Kennedy Ferguson started in the circle for the Lobos, going 1.0 innings and allowing four runs on four hits. Kiana Spencer entered to start the second inning and allowed six runs (four earned) on three hits and seven hitters faced, lasting 0.1 innings for the loss. Bailey Klitzke got the ball for the remaining 3.2 innings and gave up seven hits and seven runs (five earned) while walking one and striking out one. Klitzke faced 22 batters and threw 39 strikes on 59 pitches.
The final game of the series is set for Saturday at noon with the series now tied at one game each.