UNM Falls to No. 16 Arizona State
CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif.— The University of New Mexico softball team fell behind early to No. 16 Arizona State on Friday night and the Lobos were unable to create many opportunities, falling 15-0 in five innings at the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic.
UNM (6-5) had just three hits on the evening with Briana Martinez, Andrea Howard and Reyan Tuck each recording one and was kept off the base paths for most of the night by Sun Devil starting pitcher Samantha Mejia, who struck out eight and did not issue any free passes.
Friday’s game was the first time that the hot-hitting Lobo offense had been shut out all season and the first time that the Lobos had been run-ruled.
With Martinez’s hit in the fourth inning, the freshman extended her streak of safely reaching base in all 11 games this season. Tuck extended her hit streak to four games with a single to right in the fifth inning and Howard extended her on-base streak to three games with a leadoff single in the second on a blooper to left for the first hit of the game for the Lobos. Unfortunately, the on-base streak for Rachael Hathoot was snapped at 10 games and the hitting streak for Cameryn O’Grady was capped at five.
ASU (12-2) scored seven runs in the first inning to take control of the game, ultimately scoring in all but one inning, while recording 11 hits in the game.
Kennedy Ferguson started the game in the circle for the Lobos and was one of three pitchers used. The sophomore lasted just five batters, giving up four runs on four hits before being replaced by Bailey Klitzke. Klitzke threw a combined 2.1 innings, striking out one batter but allowing six runs on four hits. Alexis Buddenhagen gave UNM 2.1 innings of work, allowing five runs on three hits but struck out her first batter as a Lobo.
Defensively, freshman Gavyn Shafer showed her range at second base in the top of the fifth inning, stealing a hit from a Sun Devil hitter with a leaping grab to catch the line drive and record an out to start the inning and ended the frame by running to her right to cover the middle of the infield, fielding the ball with her backhand and throwing across her body over to Tuck at first to beat the baserunner.
T5 | Gavyn Shafer is just making plays! She covers the middle and makes a strong throw to first for the third out!@FloSoftball | https://t.co/maI9aoC6ni#GoLobos pic.twitter.com/WV2Cd5Jcuq
— UNM Softball (@UNMLoboSB) February 22, 2020
UNM has a short turnaround with two games on Saturday, facing No. 18 Missouri at 10:30 a.m. MT followed by San Diego at 1 p.m. MT. Both games will be on FloSoftball but will require a subscription.