Lobos Drop Two Games in First Day of Hillenbrand Invitational
TUCSON, Ariz.— Senior outfielder Andrea Howard scored the first run of the 2021 New Mexico softball season and senior shortstop Cameryn O’Grady singled to right to score Peyton Robinson from second to give UNM a 2-1 lead over Arizona, but the No. 4 Wildcats would score the next four runs to win 5-2.
It was the second loss of the day for the Lobos as UNM lost to Seattle 8-0 in six innings in the first game of the Hillenbrand Invitational.
Howard, O’Grady and Robinson each had two hits on the day and O’Grady and Howard were responsible for the two runs-batted-in against the Wildcats. Howard also drew a team-high three walks on the day with Sydney Broderick drawing two between the two games.
GAME 1: SEATTLE
The Lobos left nine runners on base, including leaving the bases loaded in the third and fifth inning, as the Redhawks won 8-0 in six innings.
Seattle got on the board early with two runs in the bottom of the first, but while the Lobos had a chance to cut into the lead in their next time at the plate, they were unable to bring in Briana Martinez from second after the outfielder singled to left and stole second.
New Mexico got out of the bottom of the second, leaving two Seattle runners stranded, but after the Lobos left the bases loaded in the top of the third on a Robinson single, Rachael Hathoot single and Howard walk, SU took advantage of a free pass via a hit-by-pitch and a subsequent stolen base with a double that scored the runner and added a fourth run on a runner that tagged from third following a fly out to left field.
In the top of the fifth, the Lobos loaded the bases on an O’Grady single, a Howard walk and a Lauren Wilmert single to shortstop but were left on board after a strikeout and a grounder to first.
Seattle added four runs on four hits in the sixth to enforce the run rule.
Freshman Ashlyn Roberts took the loss in the game, pitching 2.0 innings and allowing two runs on two hits, to go along with two walks and a strikeout.
Kiana Spencer entered in relief in the bottom of the third and threw 3.2 innings and allowed six runs on six hits with four walks and two strikeouts.
GAME TWO: ARIZONA
Arizona opened the scoring in the bottom of the first on a single following two walks and a fielder’s choice that moved the runner to third. The Lobos answered with one swing in the bottom of the third as Howard homered to left field on a two-out, 2-0 pitch.
After a scoreless fourth frame, UNM strung together a run set up by Robinson reaching base on a one-out bunt and advancing to second on a throwing error by the Wildcat third baseman. With two outs and behind 0-2 in the count, O’Grady singled through the infield to right to score Robinson and give the Lobos the 2-1 lead.
However, in the bottom of the inning Arizona re-took the lead on a two-run home run by Alyssa Palomino-Cardoza and went on to score two more runs in the sixth on a two-out single to left, the only hit by U of A in the inning.
Emma Guindon took the loss after pitching all 6.0 innings, allowing seven hits, five runs and five walks while striking out three batters. The junior threw 123 pitches with 67 strikes on 29 batters faced.
The Lobos (0-2) open day two of the Hillenbrand Invitational against Southern Utah at 9 a.m. MT on FloSoftball before finishing the day with a final game against Arizona on the Pac-12 network.