Lobos Drop Doubleheader to Longhorns
AUSTIN, Texas— The University of New Mexico Lobos concluded its non-conference schedule on Saturday with a doubleheader against No. 10/11 Texas, falling to the Longhorns in both games.
Rachael Hathoot led the Lobos at the plate who two hits on the day, with the Lobos having seven total between the two games, all of which occurred in the second game of the day.
Andrea Howard had UNM’s lone extra-base hit on Saturday, a triple in the sixth inning, with Izabella Owen drawing the lone Lobo walk in the doubleheader.
UNM used four pitchers in the circle with Emma Guindon and Ashlyn Roberts getting the starts.
GAME ONE:
The Lobos struggled to get any offense going against Longhorn pitcher Ariana Adams, with just two base runners reaching base in the first inning on a hit-by-pitch for Howard and an Owen walk in the fifth.
Texas however, started its scoring in the first inning on a two-run home run for Colleen Sullivan, and added five runs in the second, one run in the third to reach run-rule territory and scored four more runs in the fourth for the 12-0 final.
Errors again proved to cost the Lobos as a two-out error in the second kept the inning alive for the Longhorns, in which they went on to score five unearned runs. Another error in the third led to another unearned Texas run, as was the case in the fourth, ultimately leading to seven unearned runs in the game.
Roberts lasted 1.2 innings in the circle, allowing five hits and five runs (two earned). Kiana Spencer entered in relief to pitch 1.2 innings, with the senior allowing three hits, seven runs (three earned), and Talia Hannappel entered in the fourth to pitch the final 0.2 inning, allowing just one hit.
GAME TWO:
After both teams went scoreless in the first inning, the Lobos took their first lead of the day in the top of the second, which was started by a Hathoot leadoff single to left. The sophomore stole second on the next at-bat, and was able to score during Owen’s at-bat after Owen laid down a bunt to the catcher for the 1-0 Lobo lead.
Texas loaded the bases in the bottom of the second all with two outs, but was unable to score after a fly out to Taryn Young in right. Taylor Ellsworth hit a one-out solo home run to tie the game in the third and took the 2-1 lead on a single up the middle that scored a runner from second.
The Longhorns scored two more runs in the fourth on a leadoff walk and double and a two-out single to center, and four runs in the fifth on four hits for the final runs of the game between both teams.
Howard’s triple in the sixth was UNM’s best chance to score late in the game, but the Lobos were unable to bring her home in the 8-1 final.
Guindon threw 4.0 in the game, with Hannappel throwing the final 2.0 innings.
Up next: UNM opens its home schedule, as well as conference play, with Colorado State on Friday, March 27 at 2 p.m. MT at Lobo Softball Field. The Lobos will play the Rams in a three-game series with two games on Saturday and one on Sunday. Tickets will be available for purchase starting on Wednesday, March 24.