Lobos Lose in Walk-Off Fashion to Aztecs Sunday
SAN DIEGO, Calif.— Sunday’s series finale with San Diego State was a defensive battle that took until the bottom of the seventh inning to be decided, with the Aztecs getting the edge, 1-0.
Starting pitcher Emma Guindon went the distance for the second time on the weekend, recording 20 of 21 outs before SDSU broke through with a hit that fell in the outfield between right and center field to score the runner from third for the game-winning run.
Briana Martinez and Reyan Tuck each hit a double in the contest with Martinez having the best chance for the Lobos to get on the board in the fifth after reaching third on a sacrifice bunt by Tuck. However, a popped up bunt attempt led to an inning-ending double play after Martinez was caught halfway down the third-base line on the play with the Aztecs doubling her up at third.
The only other Lobo to reach base was Cameryn O’Grady, who drew a four-pitch walk in the first.
Tuck recorded the first hit of the game between both teams with a double past the glove of the center fielder in the second, but was left stranded on second following a strikeout.
SDSU’s first hit off of Guindon came in the second inning on a single through the left side of the infield, but the Lobo defense eliminated the runner on the next at-bat with a 4-6-3 double play. It was the first of two double plays of the game for UNM, with the second occurring in the fourth inning on a liner back to Guindon, who doubled up the runner at first.
Solid defensive play by New Mexico left a runner stranded on second in the fifth and a runner on first in the sixth, but the Lobos were unable to get any runners on in the sixth and seventh inning.
A leadoff walk following a full count in the bottom of the seventh proved to be the difference, with the pinch runner advancing on a sacrifice bunt. A single through the left side on the next at-bat put runners on the corners, but Guindon struck out the next batter to record the second out. On the second pitch of the at-bat, pinch hitter Jessica Cordola hit a fly ball to the outfield that found grass between Andrea Howard and Taryn Young to walk-off the Aztecs.
In total, SDSU left a total of five runners on base compared to two for UNM.
The Lobos host San José State for their final home series of the season on Saturday, May 8 and Sunday, May 9 with a doubleheader on Saturday. First pitch on Saturday is scheduled for 2 p.m. with tickets going on sale for the weekend on Wednesday, May 5.