Lobos to Compete in Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.— After a successful weekend hosting the Susan Craig Classic to open the 2020 home schedule, The University of New Mexico softball team travels to Cathedral City, Calif., for the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic to play six games in four days starting Thursday, Feb. 20.

UNM NOTES | LIVE STATS (THURS. vs. UCR) | LIVE STATS (THURS. vs. USA) | LIVE STATS (Fri. vs. ASU) | LIVE STATS (SAT. vs. Missouri) | LIVE STATS (SAT. vs. USD) | LIVE STATS (SUN. vs. CAL) | LIVE STREAM

In what should be an exciting weekend for the Lobos, UNM is scheduled to play two ranked teams in 16/16 Arizona State and 18/18 Missouri as well as a highly anticipated game against the USA Olympic Team scheduled for Thursday night at 9 p.m. MT as part of their Stand Beside Her Tour. In addition, UNM will face UC Riverside to open up the tournament, San Diego and California for a total of two Pac-12 teams and a team from the SEC.

While the Lobos will play just five schools, there will be a total of 30 teams competing at the Mary Nutter with games being played on five different fields. Games throughout the weekend will be streamed on FloSoftball, however a subscription will be required.

 NEWS AND NOTES

WEEK 2 RECAP

The Lobos opened their home schedule with a three-day, seven game tournament hosting UC Santa Barbara and Northern Colorado. UNM went 3-1 with two wins over Northern Colorado and went 1-1 against UCSB.

Cameryn O’Grady hit .667 (8-for-12) with five doubles, a home run, two walks, 6 RBI and got on base via a hit-by-pitch and had 16 total bases. The senior shortstop posted a slugging percentage of 1.333 and an on-base percentage of .733.

Briana Martinez hit .455 with five hits, one home run, one double, 3 RBI and four walks. The freshman had a slugging percentage of .818 and an on-base percentage of .600.

UNM outscored its opponents 31-14 on the weekend, including two, five inning run-rule games of 12-3 against UNC and 9-1 over UCSB. In Saturday’s two games, the Lobos outscored their opponents 17-4 (8-3 and 9-1).

In the circle, Kiana Spencer threw two complete games, with both games resulting in the run-rule wins. She finished the Susan Craig Classic with a 3.60 ERA.

LOOKING AHEAD TO WEEK 3

The Lobos (5-4) will play six games in four days with two against Pac-12 schools (Arizona State, California), one against a team from the SEC (Missouri) as well as the USA Olympic Team.

UNM has already defeated a Pac-12 team earlier this year in Stanford (2-0). With UNM’s win over Stanford, it is the sixth consecutive year that the Lobos have recorded a win over a Power 5 school.

Briana Martinez and Rachael Hathoot enter the weekend with a nine-game streak of safely reaching base. Bailey Klitzke has reached base safely in the last seven games and Cameryn O’Grady has recorded a hit in the last four. Reyan Tuck currently has a three-game hit streak and Leslie Romero has a two-game hit streak.

O’Grady enters the Mary Nutter having recorded a double in the last four games and seven of the nine games this season.

Also of note, UNM pitching coach Breanna Macha Peterson will face some of her former teammates when the Lobos play her alma mater, Arizona State.

PATIENCE AT THE PLATE

UNM earned its way on base via a walk in 51 of the 224 (22.8%) at-bats to date. In 42 at-bats (18.8%), the Lobos had full counts and of those, 28 resulted in walks (66.7%). In addition to the 28 full count walks, 10 walks were of the four-pitch variety and 13 were five-pitch walks.

Against WSU in the first game, the Lobos had eight full counts with six of those resulting in walks.

UNM leads the nation in walks, having four more walks than No. 2 Florida State in two fewer games.

Briana Martinez leads the Lobos in walks with 10. In Saturday’s game against Northern Colorado, the freshman drew a walk following a 10-pitch at-bat after falling behind 0-2 (KKBBFFFFBB).

In the third inning against Northern Colorado on Feb. 15, Martinez hit a home run following a 3-2 count.

STICKING WITH WHAT WORKS

The Lobos have utilized the same batting order in spots one, two and four in all nine games. Rachael Hathoot has led off in all nine games, followed by Cameryn O’Grady, and Briana Martinez in the cleanup spot.

Hathoot reached base in her first plate appearance in five games with a walk, a single back up the middle, a home run, a single through the left side, and a single to right, scoring in four of those games. When leading off in any inning, the freshman infielder is 7-for-14.

Andrea Howard is 4-for-5 in situations in which there is a runner on third and less than two outs, including a RBI double in the last game against Grand Canyon which tied the game at six. Bailey Klitzke is 4-for-4 in the same situation. Klitzke is also 2-for-2 when leading off in an inning and Cameryn O’Grady is 3-for-5.

GOING THE DISTANCE X4

While the Lobos have more depth at the pitcher position than in recent years, the Lobos utilized just two in their two wins on Saturday, Feb. 8 at the GCU Kickoff Tournament.

Freshman right-hander Brianna Sanchez pitched a complete 7.0 innings in her first collegiate start against (RV) Stanford, allowing just four hits and striking out one, while throwing 47 strikes on 86 total pitches for the shutout. The freshman found herself in trouble just once with a bases-loaded situation in the second, but for the most of the morning, the Lobo pitcher kept the Cardinal off of the base paths, retiring the order in the third and fourth. The four hits were scattered through four innings and each time the defense kept the runners stranded, with the Cardinal leaving a total of five runners on base in the game.

In the next game against host GCU, senior left-hander Kiana Spencer finished with a final stat line of 7.0 innings of work, six hits, four runs (all earned), two strikeouts, four walks and 55 strikes on 93 pitches thrown. It was the 12th complete game for Spencer as a Lobo.

In the Susan Craig Classic, Spencer pitched two more complete games, with both resulting in run-rule wins for the Lobos. On Friday night against Northern Colorado, the left-hander finished with a stat line of 5.0 innings of work, two walks and 67 pitches thrown with 40 of them called strikes. In Saturday’s game against UCSB, Spencer posted 5.0 innings of work, allowing just one run on five hits, while striking out two batters and walking three. Of the 76 pitches thrown, 44 went for strikes.

LEADOFF LIFT OFF

UNM has hit five home runs to lead off an inning, with three coming in the first game against Grand Canyon. Sydney Broderick hit a home run in the top of the seventh in the 7-6 loss to Stanford, Rachael Hathoot opened up the bottom of the first in the 2-0 win over Stanford with a home run, and Bailey Klitzke (bottom third), Broderick (bottom fifth) and Andrea Howard (bottom sixth) all hit home runs in the 9-4 win over Grand Canyon to start the inning. In the case of Klitzke’s home run, Howard followed that up with a home run of her own, with both coming on the first pitch of the at-bats.

FRESHMEN STEP UP IN WEEK 1 AND 2

UNM had three freshmen start all five games in Briana Martinez, Rachael Hathoot and Gavyn Shafer at the GCU Kickoff Tournament, with four making an appearance overall, and were put in key roles in which they delivered. To date, Hathoot and Martinez have started all nine games.

Martinez leads the team in several offensive categories including on-base percentage, walks, stolen bases and is second in hits and batting average, as well as is among the top five in several more categories. Martinez is tied for first in runs scored, third in slugging percentage and total bases and tied for third in RBI. The outfielder reached safely in all nine games and has three multiple hit games and two multiple RBI games. She went 13-for-19 in advancing runners.

Hathoot is third in runs scored and hits, fourth in total bases, tied for fourth in walks, and fifth in on-base percentage, RBI and slugging percentage. She is the only Lobo to have recorded a triple to date this season.

Shafer has spent time at both first and second, mostly at second, in her eight starts and produced her first double play against Stanford in the 2-0 win. Her first RBI came on a sacrifice fly in the season opener against Weber State.

Sanchez has made a team-high six appearances in the circle but also has a team-low ERA of 3.60. Opposing teams have a batting average against the pitcher at .286 as well as the fewest hits. The right-hander has thrown 15.0 innings, and also accounted for a double play to close out the 2-0 win against Stanford in which she caught a line drive and threw it to first for the final out.

ROOM TO IMPROVE

In the four games that the Lobos lost, there was one common theme: runners left on base.

In the season opener against Weber State and the next game against Stanford, UNM left 11 runners stranded in each game. In the loss to GCU, UNM left 10 runners on base and in the last game against UCSB, the Lobos left eight runners on base.

NATIONALLY RANKED

Through the first nine games of the season, UNM is ranked among the top 30 in a couple of categories.

The Lobos rank first in the NCAA in walks with 51, having four more than Florida State in two less games, and 18th in the country in home runs per game with 1.33, and lead the Mountain West in both categories. UNM is also 29th in on-base percentage (.415).

Individually, Cameryn O’Grady ranks first in the NCAA in doubles (eight) with two fewer games than Jourdyn Campbell from Texas A&M that she is tied with, and in doubles per game (0.89). Andrea Howard is 21st in home runs (four), 30th in home runs per game (0.44), and tied for fifth in sacrifice flies (two).  Briana Martinez is 13th in walks per game (1.11), Bailey Klitzke is 16th in walks per game (1.00) and Brianna Sanchez is tied for 26th in shutouts (one).

FIRST TIME FOR EVERYTHING

Redshirt-freshman Skylar Jenkins made her first start in Sunday’s game against UCSB, coming off of her first collegiate hit and home run the day before. Entering as a pinch hitter for the Lobos in the sixth inning against Northern Colorado, Jenkins recorded her first collegiate hit with a two-run home run to right field.

Freshman Gavyn Shafer registered her first collegiate hit in the first game against UNC on Feb. 14 in the second inning, also tallying her first RBI.

Sophomore Leslie Romero’s first collegiate hit also was memorable as it resulted in a RBI in the Feb. 15 game against UCSB. Romero hit a double in the fourth inning to give UNM a 4-1 lead after hitting a sacrifice fly in the first inning to allow Andrea Howard to tag from third.

 THE OPPONENTS

UC RIVERSIDE

The Lobos are 5-2 against the Highlanders and have lost the last two meetings.

UNM and UC Riverside have five common opponents this season in UC Santa Barbara, UTEP, San Diego State, San Jose State and Utah State.

The Highlanders enter the tournament 6-4 with wins over Utah State (11-5), Loyola Marymount (13-12), San Diego State (5-0), Idaho State (2-1), UTEP (11-1) and Santa Clara (6-4).  Their losses came to Idaho State (6-2), San Jose State (7-6), Middle Tennessee (7-5) and Pacific (7-1). They are 2-3 in neutral games.

To date, UCR is hitting .317 with 62 runs, 85 hits, 16 doubles and 12 home runs with a slugging percentage of .519. They have drawn 40 walks and have struck out 29 times. In the circle, they are throwing a team ERA of 3.45, allowing 74 hits, 50 runs (33 earned), while walking 51 and striking out 41. Opponents are hitting .273 off of the staff.

Marissa Burk leads the team in batting average (.435) with 10 hits and 12 total bases on the season. Kennedi Sorensen is responsible for a team-high four home runs and Emma Ramelot has five doubles to lead the Highlanders. Sorensen and Melanie Olmos each have eight RBI to lead the team.

In the circle, the Highlanders have used six different pitchers with Briza Blanco holding a 1.33 ERA and a 3-0 record to lead the rotation. Megan Casper has made the most starts for UCR with four starts and Blanco and Jacy Boles lead with eight appearances. Blanco leads for the most time in the circle at 26.1 innings and is the only pitcher to record a complete game.

UCR was picked to finish sixth in the Big West with 28 votes.

ARIZONA STATE

UNM has faced ASU 42 times previously with the Sun Devils holding a 36-6 advantage in the series. ASU has won the last six meetings with the last UNM win on Feb. 13, 2004 by a score of 8-6.

UNM and ASU have eight common opponents this season in San Diego, New Mexico State, Boise State, South Dakota, Arizona, Grand Canyon, California, Stanford.

The Sun Devils enter the Mary Nutter ranked 16th and are 9-2 with their only losses coming to Tennessee (8-5) and Western Michigan (9-7). They have won their last five games and won 3-2 and 7-5 over No. 10 Kentucky.

Alynah Torres leads the team with a .405 batting average (15-for-37), slugging percentage (.838), hits (15), home runs (five), RBI (14) and total bases (31) with Kindra Hackbarth leading in on-base percentage with .475. Jazmine Hill has a team-high five doubles and Bella Loomis has a team-high eight walks.

The Sun Devils have used three pitchers with two carrying an ERA of below 2.0. Madison Preston (3-0) has a team-best ERA of 1.48 with eight appearances and one start, throwing two shutouts in 23.2 innings in the circle. She has allowed just 10 hits and nine runs and struck out 34 batters compared to walking 12. Cielo Meza (5-1) has an ERA of 1.83 in 38.1 innings of work, allowing 25 hits, 12 runs, 13 walks and striking out 53. Meza has appeared in eight games, starting seven and has thrown two complete games, including a no-hitter against Seattle in a 7-0 win. Samantha Mejia has started three games and has a 5.73 ERA in 11.0 innings, allowing 11 hits and 11 runs, walking five and striking out 15.

Arizona State is 19th in the NCAA in scoring (7.18), 22nd in slugging percentage (.543) and walks (22) and 26th in home runs per game (1.27).

ASU was picked to finish fourth in the Pac-12 with 49 points.

MISSOURI

The Lobos are 2-7 against the Tigers and enter the weekend having lost the last meeting between the teams, 2-0, when Missouri was ranked third.

UNM and Missouri have two common opponents this season in Arizona and California.

Missouri is ranked 18th in the country and enter the tournament 9-2 with wins over then-No. 8/7 Minnesota (7-4 in eight innings) and a 3-2 win over then-No. 16 Oklahoma State in eight innings. The two losses came against then-No. 20 James Madison (8-7 in eight) and then-No. 14/13 Minnesota 10-1  in six innings. The Tigers lost their last two games.

To date, Mizzou is hitting .274 with 61 runs, 79 hits, 13 doubles and 16 home runs with a slugging percentage of .493. They have drawn 38 walks and have struck out 62 times.

Jazmyn Rollin leads the team in batting average (.378), hits (14), triples (one) and total bases (27). Hatti Moore leads the team in slugging percentage (.800), home runs (four), walks (nine) and is tied with Megan Moll in on-base percentage at .462. Cayla Kessinger has a team-high 14 RBI and Kimberly Wert has a team-best four doubles.

In the circle, the Tigers have used five different pitchers with two holding an ERA under 2.0. Eli Daniel has an ERA of 1.27 and a 3-1 record behind eight appearances, 11.0 innings of work, seven hits, three runs, 19 strikeouts and two walks to lead the rotation. Daniel also has three saves on the season. Sophie Dandola has made the has made four appearances with one start, carrying a 1-0 record. Megan Schumacher has made the most starts with four and is 2-0 on record, pitching a team-high 28.0 innings with 34 hits, 17 runs, nine walks and 20 strikeouts for an ERA of 3.25. As a staff, the Tigers have an ERA of 3.09, allowing 80 hits, 41 runs, 24 walks and 74 strikeouts.

Mizzou returns six starters and three pitchers and has 11 newcomers and was picked to finish 10th in the SEC. Brooke Wilmes was named to the Preseason All-SEC Team.

SAN DIEGO

The Lobos are 3-0 overall against the Toreros with the last meeting being on Feb. 12, 2016, a 2-1 UNM win.

UNM and San Diego have six common opponents this season in BYU, San Diego State, UC Santa Barbara, Colorado State, Arizona State and Utah State.

USD is 5-5 on the season and has won its last three games.

To date, USD is hitting .244 with 34 runs, 58 hits, 16 doubles and two home runs with a slugging percentage of .336. They have drawn 20 walks and have struck out 25 times.

Sara Silveyra leads the team in batting average (.370), slugging percentage (.519) with 10 hits and 14 total bases on the season as well as four walks. Silveyra and Sophia Bjerk are responsible for the lone home runs. Madison Casiano and Halle Kyler both have three doubles to lead the team.

In the circle, the Toreros have used five different pitchers with a 3.11 team ERA with Delaney Heller having a team-best 2.31 ERA to lead the rotation. Heller has made a team-high seven appearances and five starts with four complete games and two shutouts in 30.1 innings. The RHP has allowed 23 hits, 10 runs, 10 walks and has struck out 32 batters. Madison Earnshaw has started four games with five appearances and has a 2.33 ERA in 18.0 innings. The RHP has thrown one complete game and one shutout and is 2-0 on the season. As a unit, the Toreros have thrown three shutouts, giving up 66 hits, 35 runs, 25 walks and 42 strikeouts.

The Toreros have five newcomers and return seven starters and 15 letterwinners. Silveyra and Bjerk were named to the Preseason All-WCC Team as USD was picked to finish third overall.

CALIFORNIA

The Lobos are 1-4 overall against the Golden Bears and have lost the last four meetings in the series. The lone Lobo win was on March 26, 1981 in a 1-0 game.

UNM and Cal have eight common opponents this season in Arizona State, Arizona, Stanford, UNLV, Grand Canyon, BYU, Fresno State and Missouri.

California enters the tournament having lost its last two games.

To date, Cal is hitting .305 with 54 runs, 85 hits, 14 doubles and three home runs with a slugging percentage of .401. They have drawn 27 walks and have struck out 28 times.

Kacey Zobac leads the team in batting average (.429) and slugging percentage (.619), while Kennedy Thomas leads with a .469 on-base percentage as well as nine walks. Mikayla Coelho has a team-high 10 RBI and Amani Bradley and Makena Smith are tied for the team high in hits with 14. Zobac, Karlee Sparacino and Cameron Kondo are responsible for the three Bear home runs.

In the circle, the Bears have used three different pitchers with Alexandra Perez holding a 2.89 ERA to lead the rotation. Perez has made a team-high seven starts and eight appearances, going 4-3 on the season with two complete games and one shutout in 36.1 innings.  Chloe Romero has a 2.92 ERA with seven appearances and three starts, holding a 2-1 record, two complete games and one shutout in 26.1 innings. As a unit, the Bears have a 3.22 team ERA with 66 hits, 36 runs, 24 walks and 35 strikeouts.

California was picked to finish tied for eighth with 20 votes in the Pac-12 preseason poll.