Howard Homers; Lobos Drop Two to Texas Tech
LUBBOCK, Texas— Senior outfielder Andrea Howard opened up Friday’s doubleheader at Texas Tech with a two-run home run in the top of the first, giving The University of New Mexico an early lead, but the Red Raiders answered with four runs of their own in the bottom of the inning in the eventual 7-3 loss.
The Lobos dropped the second game of the day in a 6-0 manner, managing just one hit.
Four different Lobos recorded a hit between the two games, while the Lobos drew seven walks and reached on four hit-by-pitches, three of which were on Cameryn O’Grady at-bats.
UNM used four pitchers between the two games with Emma Guindon getting the start in game one and Brianna Sanchez getting the start in game two. Ashlyn Roberts and Kiana Spencer both entered in relief.
GAME ONE:
Errors proved costly in the first game of the day, with six errors leading to six unearned runs in a 7-3 game.
Including Howard’s home run, the Lobos had just three hits in the first game with two occurring in the top of the seventh as UNM tried to rally for a comeback.
UNM was able to draw four walks with Izabella Owen accounting for half of the game’s total.
After O’Grady was hit by a pitch to start the game, Howard drove the second pitch she saw over the wall in right field to give the Lobos the early lead.
However, errors proved costly in the bottom of the inning as two errors made way for four unearned runs and the Texas Tech 4-2 lead.
UNM had leadoff hitters reach base in the second and fourth, but were unable to bring the runners home, leaving both standing on third.
Two more errors in the fourth led to three more Red Raider runs and after two scoreless innings by both teams, the Lobos trailed 7-2 heading into the seventh.
Reyan Tuck hit a one-out single down the right-field line and Samantha Simons entered to pinch run. Simons stole second and with two outs, Peyton Robinson moved her to third with a single to second. An O’Grady walk loaded the bases for Howard, who reached on an error by the TTU second baseman that allowed Simons to score. With the tying run at the plate, the Lobos left the bases loaded with a strikeout.
Guindon pitched 6.0 innings, allowing seven hits and four runs (all unearned), while striking out three and not allowing a walk. Roberts faced four batters, allowing three runs on three hits (one run was earned).
GAME TWO:
O’Grady again led off the game with a hit-by-pitch and the Lobos were able to put a runner in scoring position as Rachael Hathoot had the lone hit in the top of the first with a single to left that moved O’Grady to second. Both were left stranded as UNM’s best chance for scoring in the game.
Texas Tech scored two runs in both the first and second for an early 4-0 lead which the Lobos couldn’t match. UNM had a chance to cut into the lead in the fourth after Briana Martinez reached on a walk and Taryn Young hit a home run, which was wiped off the board after it was determined Martinez left early.
UNM had the leadoff hitter reach in the fifth (Young walk), sixth (O’Grady hit by pitch), but Young was thrown out trying to steal second and O’Grady was thrown out trying to take second on a foul out to right field.
The Red Raiders added runs in the fifth and six for the 6-0 final.
Sanchez pitched 1.1 innings with four hits and four runs allowed, with Spencer entering to pitch the remaining 4.2 innings, giving up two runs (one earned) on three hits.
The Lobos close out the series with a final game against Texas Tech on Saturday at 11 a.m. MT on ESPN+.