UNM Loses Two to Open Series at Fresno State

FRESNO, Calif.— The two University of New Mexico softball games against Fresno State on Friday could be narrowed down to two areas: strikeouts and errors.

The Lobos were unable to generate more than one scoring opportunity in the first game with 18 strikeouts in a 6-0 loss, and four Lobo errors in the second game contributed to a 9-1 run-rule result.

Andrea Howard and Izabella Owen were the only Lobos to produce multiple hits, with Howard going a perfect 3-for-3 in the second game and Owen going 2-for-3. Peyton Robinson and Reyan Tuck each recorded one hit, with the four Lobos accounting for all seven hits in the second game.

GAME 1

The Bulldogs scored two runs in the bottom of the first, set up by a throwing error by starting pitcher Emma Guindon on an attempted sacrifice bunt that scored the runner on second for the first run. With runners on second and third, a grounder to Cameryn O’Grady brought in the second run.

Rachael Hathoot set up the lone opportunity for the Lobos to cut into the lead in the top of the second, reaching base on a fielding error by the second baseman to start the inning and stole second to move into scoring position. However, the Lobos were unable to put the ball in play to bring Hathoot around. Hathoot would ultimately be the only Lobo to reach base in the game.

The Lobos kept the game within reach, limiting the deficit in the first three innings, leaving four Bulldog runners on base with sound defense, especially from Guindon who recorded all three outs on grounders back to the circle in the second.

When it was UNM’s turn to bat, the Lobos struggled get to Fresno State starting pitcher Hailey Dolcini, with 18 of the 21 outs in the game coming on strikeouts and no hits to build off of.

Fresno State added two runs in the fourth and fifth for the 6-0 final.

GAME 2

The Lobos had better success in the second game, generating seven hits in the game and scoring their first run of the day in the fourth, but the Bulldogs again took an early lead and scored in all but two innings.

Howard recorded the first hit for UNM in the top of the first with a single up the middle, and Hathoot followed with a walk after working a full count. However, a line out to shortstop ended the inning with both runners left on base.

Two hit-by-pitches and a walk loaded the bases for the Bulldogs in the bottom of the first, with the first run following on a grounder to O’Grady at short that pulled the shortstop’s momentum away from home to be able to make the force out. A walk on a 3-2 count re-loaded the bases and a single to left scored the second run. Two fly balls to the outfield limited any further runs.

Fresno State added another run in the second, and after both teams were held scoreless in the third, the Lobos got on the board in the top of the fourth.

Howard led off with a single to right on a 3-2 pitch and Hathoot reached base on a fielding error by the Bulldog shortstop to put two on with no outs. Owen singled with a hit past the shortstop, bringing Howard around to score and cut into the deficit. UNM was unable to produce any more hits, leaving two more runners on base.

The Bulldogs got the run back in the bottom half of the inning, with the leadoff hitter, Kaitlyn Jennings, reaching on an error by Hathoot. Jennings stole second and took third on a throwing error by Lobo catcher Lauren Wilmert. Briana Martinez laid out for the first out in left field, but Jennings was able to tag up for the run.

UNM had a chance to score another run in the fifth with a one-out single to the shortstop by Robinson in which the designated player used her speed to reach base safely and moved over to second on the next at-bat on a wild pitch. Howard hit a two-out liner in which the second baseman wasn’t able to cleanly catch, but was able to keep the ball in the infield and recovered to throw out Robinson at the plate.

Entering in relief to start the fifth, Brianna Sanchez kept the Bulldogs off the board to keep the score 4-1. In the next Lobo at-bats, Martinez reached on a fielder’s choice, followed by a single by Tuck that brought the tying run to the plate, but with two outs, the runners were left stranded with a pop-up to the shortstop.

Fresno State scored five runs on five hits in the bottom of the sixth with the Lobos charged with two errors in the inning. The final hit brought in two runs to enforce the run-rule and end the game.

UNM concludes the series with Fresno State on Saturday at 12 p.m. MT with streaming available on the Mountain West Network.