UNM Falls in Final Game to Utah State
LOGAN, Utah— Izabella Owen hit her first home run as a Lobo with two outs and on a 3-2 pitch in the top of the seventh to bring The University of New Mexico Lobos within one run, but Utah State would record the last out to take the 5-4 win in the final game of the series, and of the 2021 season.
Emotions were high for both teams throughout the game as the Lobos got out to an early lead in the top of the second, but the Aggies scored five unanswered runs between the fourth and fifth innings to pull in front.
Owen was one of two Lobos to register two hits in the game, going 2-for-4 with a team-high two RBI, as Rachael Hathoot continued her hitting streak with a 2-for-3 performance.
In her final collegiate game, Cameryn O’Grady hit her 54th career double in the first inning for the only other extra-base hit for the Lobos.
Three-straight singles to left field by Reyan Tuck, Taryn Young and Savannah Braun (who was making her first collegiate start at the designated player position) set the table for Lauren Wilmert, who entered to pinch hit for Alexis Vigil in the top of the second.
After missing the previous two games of the series due to injury, Wilmert stepped to the plate for her final collegiate at-bat, drawing a one-out, four-pitch walk with bases loaded to score UNM’s first run.
Peyton Robinson delivered the second run of the inning on a sacrifice fly to center field with Tuck tagging up and scoring.
The Lobo defense had starting pitcher Kiana Spencer’s back through the first three innings, coming in clutch with a throw out at the plate for the third out. With a runner at first, a single to right center led to a run down between O’Grady and Tuck between first and second base. While this was going on, the runner on third broke for home and O’Grady abandoned the run down and threw home in time for Hathoot to apply the tag.
USU took the lead in the bottom of the fourth with three runs, leading to Spencer taking her final exit as a Lobo, before Emma Guindon entered to record the third out on a popup to Vigil at second.
New Mexico had a rally going in the top of the fifth with Andrea Howard reaching on a four-pitch walk followed by a blooper to left field by Hathoot that fell in to put the tying run on second. Facing an 0-2 count, Owen drove the pitch to center field, but Howard was thrown out at the plate on the play.
Down to their final out and trailing 5-2, Hathoot singled up the middle and Owen battled to a full count before homering to left field. A foul out to right field however halted the comeback for the Lobos.
Spencer pitched 3.2 innings while Guindon threw 2.1 innings with two strikeouts.
With Saturday’s result, the 2021 season has concluded for the Lobos. UNM loses three players in Wilmert, O’Grady and Spencer.