Hathoot's Walk-Off Hit Gives Lobos Split with Rams Saturday
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.— On the 13th pitch of her at-bat in the bottom of the seventh inning, after nine foul balls and on a 3-2 count with Andrea Howard standing on second, University of New Mexico second baseman Rachael Hathoot delivered with a liner down the left-field line that made it all the way to the wall and allowed Howard to score easily for the walk-off 7-6 win in the second game of Saturday’s doubleheader against Colorado State.
It was the only hit of the game for the Albuquerque native, one of nine hits in the contest for UNM.
The Lobos trailed 3-0 heading into their first at-bats, but the top of the order helped the home team to cut into the deficit. A Howard double to the gap in left center brought Cameryn O’Grady all the way around the bases following a one-out walk, and O’Grady proved to be significant in the bottom of the second as well.
After Briana Martinez reached on an error by the Ram third baseman, the left fielder stole second and advanced to third on a grounder by Lauren Wilmert. Taryn Young hit a single up the middle to score Martinez and after a Peyton Robinson walk at the top of the order, O’Grady cleared the bases with a home run to right field that put the Lobos in front 5-3.
Colorado State answered to tie the game in the top of the third, to which the Lobos regained the lead in the bottom of the fifth, again led by O’Grady. The senior shortstop started off the inning with a double that reached the corner in right field, her fourth double of the season and 47 of her career. A Hathoot fly ball to center moved O’Grady to third and Izabella Owen provided the necessary hit to bring O’Grady in on a single to right field.
The Rams again tied the game, this time in the top of the seventh on a double, and consecutive singles, but Lobo pitcher Kiana Spencer limited the damage to just the one run on a strikeout, a grounder to Hathoot at second and a fly ball to Young in right.
UNM needed just two at-bats to walk-off, with Howard leading off with a single up the middle on a 3-2 pitch. A wild pitch allowed Howard to move into scoring position and Hathoot made the crucial hit, again on a 3-2 pitch, to score Howard and end the game.
Spencer pitched 5.0 innings in relief, throwing 73 pitches and allowing just one run on six hits, striking out three and not allowing a walk.
GAME 1:
The first game of the doubleheader was just as close, with the Lobos dropping the conference opener 3-2.
New Mexico was the first to get on the board in the game, with an error by the left fielder aiding in the run. A dropped fly ball by the Ram outfielder allowed Martinez to reach base and take second, with Reyan Tuck singling up the middle on the next at-bat to score Martinez.
CSU tied the game in the top of the third and took a 3-1 lead in the fourth.
The Lobos had their first chance to close the margin in the fifth inning but left two runners on base, including one in scoring position. UNM capitalized on its opportunity in the sixth with Owen hitting a one-out double to left field and Martinez following suit with another double to left field to score Owen. Martinez stole third but was called out at third during the next at-bat to end the inning.
After holding the Rams scoreless in the fifth, sixth and seventh, the Lobos had a chance to tie or take the lead in the bottom of the seventh in the one-run game. Young walked on a 3-2 count and Robinson followed with a single to center that moved Young to second. However, the Lobos ran out of opportunity, leaving both runners standing on second and first as the final out was recorded.
Emma Guindon threw 3.2 innings in the loss, allowing three runs on six hits, while freshman Ashlyn Roberts entered in relief and pitched 3.1 scoreless innings with three hits.
The Lobos and Rams conclude the conference series on Sunday at noon MT with the game streamed on the Mountain West Network.