Lobos Drop Doubleheader to No. 9/8 Oklahoma State
STILLWATER, Okla.— Facing the No. 8/9 ranked team in the country in Oklahoma State, The University of New Mexico softball team hung close in both games of Saturday’s doubleheader.
A two-run fifth inning brought the Lobos within one run of the Cowgirls and in the first game, the Lobos scored the opening run of the game and held a 1-1 tie until the fifth inning before falling 7-2 and 4-1, respectively.
Junior outfielder Peyton Robinson went 3-for-3 at the plate in the first game, including a double to right in the third and reached on two bunts, while the Lobos matched the Cowgirls in hits at eight apiece.
After OSU scored three runs in the bottom of the fourth to open the scoring, the Lobos strung together four hits to score two runs.
A single to center by freshman outfielder Samantha Simons brought in the first UNM run after Rachael Hathoot started the inning with a single and ran to second on a throwing error by the Cowgirl first baseman. Robinson’s bunt advanced Hathoot 60 feet to third and after a double steal that scored Hathoot, Robinson scored on Simon’s hit to cut the deficit to one at 3-2.
However, OSU scored three more runs in the bottom half of the inning and added a final run in the sixth for the eventual 7-2 final score.
Emma Guindon went the distance in the game, throwing her fifth complete game of the year.
UNM was the first team to score in the second game, with Hathoot again starting the sequence that would produce a run. With one out in the top of the second, Hathoot singled to center and was moved to second on a single through the right side by Reyan Tuck. A throwing error on Sydney Broderick’s at-bat loaded the bases and a sacrifice fly by Robinson scored Hathoot from third.
Oklahoma State tied the game in the bottom of the second on a sacrifice fly of its own and both teams were unable to break the tie in the following two innings. Home runs in the bottom of the fifth proved to be the difference in the game as H Busby hit a two-run home run followed by a solo home run by Dominguez for the final runs of the game between either team for the 4-1 result.
Four different Lobos recorded a hit in the second game with Andrea Howard having the only extra base hit on a double to right in the sixth for her third double of the season.
The Lobos relied on freshmen in the circle as Talia Hannappel got the start in the second game, just her second of the season, and threw 4.1 innings with four runs allowed, three walks and two strikeouts. Ashlyn Roberts entered in relief for the final 1.2 innings and allowed just one hit and one walk.
UNM closes out its weekend in Oklahoma with a neutral game against Nebraska-Omaha on Sunday at 9:30 a.m. MT in Stillwater, Okla.