Seventh Inning the Difference in Lobo Loss to Rams
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.— A two-run home run by University of New Mexico outfielder Briana Martinez gave the Lobos a 6-3 lead in the third inning of Sunday’s series finale with Colorado State, but the Rams scored the final five runs in the game to take the 8-6 win.
Heading into the seventh inning in a 6-6 tie, the Rams scored two runs in the top of the frame to break the tie, and while the Lobos loaded the bases on three walks, couldn’t bring in the tying runs.
Lobo third baseman Izabella Owen went 3-for-4 at the plate to lead the team, with UNM totaling nine hits from seven different players in the contest. Andrea Howard and Martinez each hit a home run, accounting for three RBI and two RBI, respectively.
UNM opened the scoring with three runs in the bottom of the first with two runs on a Cameryn O’Grady walk followed by a home run to center by Howard, the senior’s fifth of the season. The Lobos kept the pressure on CSU’s starting pitcher Jessica Jarecki, moving through the lineup with a single to right by Rachael Hathoot followed by a single to center by Izabella Owen. Hathoot ran all the way to third on the play for runners on the corners with one out. UNM was able to add another run on an attempted steal by Owen from first, leading off far enough for the Ram catcher to throw to second, but a bad throw allowed Hathoot to cross the plate for the third run of the inning.
Colorado State matched the run production in the top of the second with a leadoff single to left, a one-out single to right and a three-run home run by Corina Gamboa.
The Lobos regained the lead in the bottom half of the inning, loading the bases with a single to left by Taryn Young to turn over the lineup, a bunt single by Peyton Robinson and another O’Grady walk. Howard popped up the first pitch of the at-bat, and the umpire called an infield fly in which Young made it 4-3 in favor of the Lobos.
After relief pitcher Ashlyn Roberts retired the side in order in the top of the third, it took just at-bats in the bottom half to add to the Lobo lead. Owen led off with a single and Martinez drove the 1-0 pitch over the centerfield wall for the two-run home run, the first of the season for the sophomore outfielder.
Colorado State kept the game close with three runs in the top of the fourth with Gamboa hitting a solo home run, and ultimately scoring three runs on four hits to tie the game at six.
UNM had an opportunity to regain the lead in its next at-bats, with O’Grady leading off with a double off the wall in center. Of note, it was the 48th double of the Lobo shortstop’s career, tying the program record for career doubles. After Howard walked, Owen singled up the middle, and O’Grady was thrown out at the plate trying to score from second. Martinez was hit by a pitch on her at-bat to load the bases, but the runners were left stranded with a grounder back to the pitcher.
Both teams were shut down in the fifth and sixth innings with only one runner reaching base between the two teams, leading to the tie scoring heading into the final frame.
In the top of the seventh, CSU led off with an infield single followed by a double to right field with the runner on first scoring on the play. A sacrifice bunt moved the runner to third and a two-out single to right field cored the final run of the inning.
Down by two, the Lobos reached base on three walks, with Martinez walking on four pitches and pinch hitter Lauren Wilmert drawing a two-out walk. Young drew a full count before loading the bases with a walk, but a strikeout brought the game to a close with bases loaded.
UNM reached base on walks seven times in the game, compared to just two walks for CSU, but left 10 runners on base compared to six for the Rams.
In the circle, Emma Guindon got the start for the Lobos, going 2.0 innings and allowing three runs on three hits before being replaced by Roberts to start the third. Roberts threw 1.1 innings, also giving up three runs on three hits before being replaced by freshman Talia Hannappel, who got the final two outs in the fourth for the Lobos. Kiana Spencer pitched the final 3.0 innings, striking out one and allowing two runs on three hits.
Up next for the Lobos: UNM heads to Fresno State for a three-game series starting with a doubleheader on Friday, April 2 at 4:00 p.m. MT and a game on Saturday at 1 p.m. MT.