Lobo Game Two Comeback Falls Just Short
TULSA, Okla. — New Mexico had the tying run on first in the speedy Taryn Young, but Andrea Howard’s missile that might have tied the game was snagged on a nice reflex catch at third, ending UNM’s comeback bid as UNM was swept in a doubleheader at Tulsa. UNM lost the nightcap 3-2 after losing 7-0 in the opener.
In game two, the Lobos fell behind 2-0 in the second as Tulsa’s firth four reached. Aubree Seaney doubled home Haley Morgan, who was hit by an Anna Guindon pitch. After a single moved Seaney to third, she scored on another single, making it 2-0. Guindon danced out of trouble after a wild pitch to escape further damage.
Guindon, who picked up the hard-luck loss, also got out of a jam in the first, turning a nifty 1-2-3 double play to end the frame.
In all, Guindon pitched four effective innings, allowing five hits and just those two earned runs. She was relieved in the fifth by Talia Hannappel. She allowed just one run, a crucial insurance run in the fifth. After getting the first two of the inning, Seaney did the damage once again with a two-out triple.
UNM finally got on the board after 12 straight scoreless innings on the day in the sixth. Cameryn O’Grady started things off with a double off the wall in right center, which forced a pitching change. Andrea Howard singled her over to third, and UNM had runners at the corners with no outs. Isabella Owen grounded out with Howard moving to second.
Briana Martinez, who saved a home run defensively in game one, singled to bring in O’Grady to make it 3-1, and then Rachael Hathoot reached on a grounder to second that was thrown away, making it 3-2 with two on. Both she and Martinez moved up on a groundout to put two in scoring position for pinch hitter Lauren Wilmert, but she grounded to short to end the threat.
In the seventh, Diamond Sandoval walked and Taryn Young came into run. That brought in Sara Llamas-Howell for Tulsa, and she was able to close it out, getting Sara Simons and O’Grady to strikeout. That brought up Howard, who hit a screaming line drive that could have possibly scored Young. Unfortunately for UNM, Alexis Perry snagged it at third base, giving Tulsa the win.
Howard went 2-for-4 in the game, and she and O’Grady both had extra base hits for UNM.
In game one, UNM fell 7-0. UNM got behind the eight ball early in the first inning as two defensive lapses led to a pair of runs. An error that was preceded by a single put runners at first and second with no one out. After a force out and a wild pitch plated a run, Chenise Delce of Tulsa hit a comebacker and UNM caught Alexis Perry in a rundown. UNM ran the pickle well, but Perry was able to elude a tag by the catcher Broderick to make it 2-0.
Tulsa made it 3-0 on a Kylie Norwood single off Guindon. Ashlyn Roberts pitched the third and fourth innings, and she was able to dance in and out of trouble, allowing five singles and a walk, but no runs.
Tulsa put the game out of reach with four runs against Kiana Spencer, UNM’s third pitcher of the game, to close out the 7-0 win. Morgan singled in a pair, and two runs scored when Imani Edwards singled and raced to third as the ball scooted past Taryn Young in right field. Back-to-back walks loaded the bases but UNM got a force out to keep the game going.
Young had two of UNM’s three hits in the game, and Rachel Hathoot doubled for the other base hit. Guindon (1-7) took the loss in both games, but pitched well, allowing four runs, three earned over six total innings. UNM stays in Oklahoma to take on Oklahoma State in a doubleheader tomorrow at noon.