Lobos Split Saturday Games at Hillenbrand Invitational
TUCSON, Ariz.—The University of New Mexico bats came alive in the early morning game of the second day at the Hillenbrand Invitational as the Lobos scored in all but one inning for the six-inning, run-rule 11-3 win over Southern Utah.
However, the bats cooled off in the second game against No. 4 Arizona as the Lobos struggled to get runners on base and fell 12-0 in a five-inning result.
UNM finished with 10 hits against the SUU Thunderbirds with all nine starters recording at least one hit. Izabella Owen led the team with two hits, including one double, and was one of three Lobos to finish with two runs-batted-in. Andrea Howard hit a home run for the second-straight game and finished with two RBI and Reyan Tuck drove in two runs on a double.
Briana Martinez drew three walks against SUU with Lauren Wilmert and Rachael Hathoot each drawing one.
GAME ONE: SOUTHERN UTAH
UNM’s first run of the game came on a familiar sight, as Howard drove the first pitch she saw of her first inning two-out at-bat over the wall in right for her second home run of the season. However, SUU evened the score on its first at-bat in the bottom half of the inning on a solo home run from Makall Whetten.
The tie would be broken in the next Lobo at-bat as Wilmert led off with a single to left center and advanced to second on a wild pitch during Tuck’s turn at the plate. Tuck flew out to right which allowed Wilmert to move up to third and Taryn Young drove her in on the next at-bat as the senior outfielder singled to left.
After allowing the early run, Emma Guindon settled in to keep the Thunderbirds scoreless in the second, and the Lobo offense rewarded the effort by producing more runs for the pitcher in the next inning.
Much like the second inning, the Lobos were able to get baserunners on and around the base path with Howard reaching on a fielder’s choice and was moved along the base path by a Martinez walk. Owen provided the hit that would bring both runs in as the Lobo third baseman hit the ball in the gap and an error by the Southern Utah right fielder turned her double into an extra base. Another SUU error, this time by the second baseman who was unable to catch a fly ball, allowed Owen to score for the third run of the inning and the 4-1 Lobo lead.
UNM scored three runs on one hit and were the beneficiary of two SUU errors.
Guindon produced another scoreless frame in the circle in the bottom half of the third and the Lobos added two more runs in the fourth. For the third-straight inning, the Lobo leadoff hitter reached base following back-to-back singles from Hathoot and O’Grady, and an error by the catcher that advanced Hathoot to third proved costly as Hathoot was able to tag on Howard’s at-bat after the senior hit a fly ball to right. On the next at-bat, O’Grady stole second, just her fifth stolen base attempt and stolen base of her career, and ran to third on a throwing error by the catcher, the fourth error of the game for SUU. Martinez scored O’Grady with a double to left center for the final run of the inning.
Southern Utah got a run back in the bottom of the fourth, reaching base on a hit-by-pitch and two singles, but the Lobo defense limited any further cut into their lead with an inning-ending double play in which Owen fielded a ground ball with bases loaded, stepped on third and threw home to Wilmert who applied the tag for the third out.
While the Lobos were held off the board in the fifth, the only time in the game the Lobos wouldn’t score in an inning, the Thunderbirds scored another run in the bottom of the inning on a solo home run by Brooke Brown before Guindon struck out the next batter for the final out.
UNM’s biggest inning came in the sixth with the Lobos plating four runs. Hathoot led off with a walk and with two outs, Martinez would draw a walk. Owen hit an infield single to load the bases and Wilmert would follow with a walk to produce another run. After the Thunderbirds made a pitching change, Tuck welcomed the new pitcher with a double down the left-field line that scored Owen and Martinez. Young would reach base on a hit-by-pitch and Robinson beat out a hit to the shortstop to score Wilmert for the fourth run.
Kiana Spencer entered to start the bottom of the sixth and the Lobo defense retired the side in order to close the game.
Guindon finished with a final stat line of 5.0 innings pitched, allowing six hits, three runs, striking out four and walking three to earn her first win as a UNM Lobo.
GAME TWO: ARIZONA
Saturday’s game boiled down to free passes that led to runs as the Lobos allowed nine walks, while the Lobo offense was unable to produce a hit and only one hitter reached base.
Arizona had its first three hitters in the bottom of the first reach base via walks and the first run would come across on a wild pitch. A throwing error by Young after fly out to right in which Young tried to throw home to keep the runner on third from tagging scored the second run and a single to center scored the third run of the inning.
Owen was able to reach base in the top of the second on a hit-by-pitch, but a Tuck line drive led to a double play to end the inning and eliminate the potential opportunity.
Spencer was able to get the first two outs in the bottom of the second but a single, a double to right and three-straight walks scored two of the four runs in the inning.
The Wildcats added three runs in the third and two in the fourth for the final score as the run-rule came into effect in the fifth.
Spencer was charged with the loss after going 1.2 innings and allowing four hits, seven runs and seven walks. Freshman Ashlyn Roberts entered in relief and pitched the remaining 2.1 innings, giving up five runs on seven hits, but struck out two hitters and walked two.
UNM closes out the Hillenbrand Invitational on Sunday with a game against Seattle at 9 a.m. MT followed by a game against Southern Utah at 12 p.m.