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ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.–It’s finally softball season and the New Mexico Lobos are starting off the season with four enticing games in Tucson, Ariz. at the inaugural Candrea Classic. Starting on Friday, the Lobos will face three Power 5 schools in Oregon State (Friday, 3:30 p.m), No. 2/2 Alabama (Sunday, 11:30 a.m.) and No. 9/11 Arizona (Sunday, 2 p.m.), as well as Southern Utah (Saturday, 10:30 a.m.).
The games with Oregon State and Arizona will be streamed on the Pac-12 Network (free to watch), while the Southern Utah and Alabama will be shown on FloSoftball which does require a subscription.
This is the third time in four years that the Lobos will open the season at Arizona, with the Lobos also starting the season in Tucson last season. Last season, UNM faced Southern Utah, Arizona and Seattle, two of the opponents the Lobos will face this time around. Further, the Lobos have played each of the four teams in the Tucson tournament at some point in the last three years.
As head softball coach Paula Congleton stated at practice this week, it’s time to play someone else in another jersey, and for a new group of Lobos to get their first chance to put on the cherry and silver.
The Lobos added 10 newcomers in the offseason, with several expected to be called upon from game one. New Mexico added two transfer pitchers in Amber Linton (Indiana) and Samantha Fohrman (Georgian Court) who are expected to see time in the circle, and three freshmen infielders who should see their name in the starting lineup on opening day in Emma Bramson, Ashley Archuleta and Olivia Birkinshaw. UNM also added Janae Cameron behind the plate to provide veteran depth at the catcher position with Sydney Broderick. UNM also added Janae Cameron behind the plate to provide veteran depth at the catcher position with Sydney Broderick.
UNM has its most depth at the pitcher and catcher position since Congleton arrived with six pitchers and five catchers, with three returning pitchers in Emma Guindon, Ashlyn Roberts and Brianna Sanchez and a freshman in McKenna Kostyszyn to join the aforementioned Fohrman and Linton as newcomers.
Another area that is solid is the outfield, with outfielders Andrea Howard and Taryn Young deciding to use their extra year of eligibility with the Lobos, and Peyton Robinson returning to left field.
SCOUTING OREGON STATE
Oregon State enters the season after going 20-26 last season and 7-17 in the Pac-12. The Beavers had notable wins against No. 3 Oregon (8-1), No. 6 Washington (3-1) and No. 10 Arizona State (1-0 and 5-3) last season.
Returner Frankie Hammoude led OSU in hits (49), batting average (.360), slugging percentage (.765), RBI (41), total bases (104), walks (21) and home runs (17) in 2021.
On the pitching side, the Beavers return their top pitcher from a year ago in Mariah Mazon, who appeared in 36 games last season and started in 27. Mazon threw 23 complete games with six shutouts and a save and threw a total of 204.0 innings. The RHP carried a team-best 2.30 ERA and was on record for 14 of OSU’s wins.
The Lobos are 5-11 all-time against the Beavers, with the last meeting back on March 9, 2019 (a 5-3 loss). However, UNM is 3-2 against Oregon State in the last five meetings.
In the last game, Howard went 2-for-3 at the plate with one RBI and the Lobos also faced Mazon.
OSU shares three other common opponents with the Lobos (outside of the common opponents at the Candrea Classic) in New Mexico State, North Dakota State and Arizona. Oregon State was picked to finish seventh in the preseason Pac-12 poll.
SCOUTING SOUTHERN UTAH
The Thunderbirds finished the 2021 season 20-30, reaching the 20-win mark for the first time since 2015, and finished second in the Big Sky conference in the regular season at 10-8 and runner-up at the conference tournament.
SUU returns nine players from the 2021 roster, including second team all-conference outfielder Josey White and Makall Whetten. The Thunderbirds lost their leader in batting average (.433), slugging percentage (.788) and walks (26) in Kalena Shepherd, as well as their leader in RBI (53) and home runs (17) in Brooke Brown, but White led the team in hits (61), doubles (15), total bases (115). In the circle, SUU lost its top pitcher, Tyler Denhart, who appeared in 41 games with 30 starts and three complete games, pitching 152.0 innings. They do return Grace Owen, who pitched in 73.0 innings with 40 appearances (all in relief), and finished with a 5.75 ERA, as well as Payton Goodrich, who started 20 games and threw 76.0 innings in 26 appearances.
Southern Utah added seven new freshmen and two transfers in the offseason, which includes a transfer from Baylor in Madison Lindsey, who pitched 59.1 innings with a 3.66 ERA and 37 strikeouts during her two seasons at Baylor.
UNM leads the all-time series against SUU 26-3 and are 4-1 in the last five meetings. The last time the two teams met was last year on Feb. 21, with Southern Utah winning 4-1. However, the Lobos won the previous game the day before, 11-3 in six innings. In that game, Howard went 2-for-3 with two RBI and a home run, while Briana Martinez drew three walks. Guindon earned the win in the circle with 5.0 innings, and allowed three runs on six hits with four strikeouts.
The Thunderbirds were picked to finish fourth in the Big Sky preseason poll.
UNM and SUU share other common opponents in Dixie State, San Diego State, Wisconsin, Maine and BYU. The Lobos will face the Thunderbirds again in the non-conference season at the Dixie State tournament.
SCOUTING ALABAMA
Alabama finished 52-9 last season, 18-6 in the SEC, winning the SEC Tournament and advancing to the Women’s College World Series.
The Crimson Tide lost their top two hitters in Bailey Hemphill and Alexis Mack, but Kaylee Tow returns after hitting .362 with a .574 slugging percentage, with 68 hits, a team-high 14 doubles and eight home runs. In the circle, Montana Fouts is the key returner for Alabama. Fouts appeared in 36 games with 32 starts and 24 complete games, going 27-4 with a 1.61 ERA. She threw a team-high 213.1 innings with 10 shutouts. The Crimson Tide also return Lexi Kilfoyl and Jaala Torrence, with Kilfoyl throwing 104.0 innings last season with 23 appearances and 16 starts, and Torrence having a 0.94 ERA with 10 appearances and two starts.
Alabama is the 2022 preseason favorites in the SEC, earning seven first-place votes and 138 points.
The Lobos last played Alabama on Feb. 15, 2019, with the Crimson Tide winning 1-0 after scoring a run in the top of the seventh.
SCOUTING ARIZONA
Arizona enters the season having gone 41-15 last season, 12-10 in the Pac-12. Arizona advanced to the Women’s College World Series a year ago. The Wildcats played the Lobos twice last season (5-2 and 11-0 (5) victories for Arizona) and once in 2019 (15-1 U of A in five innings).
U of A returns its top players in Janelle Meoño, who was an All-American and led with a .439 batting average and 72 hits, as well as Sharlize Palacios, who had 55 hits, 18 home runs, 57 RBI and a .715 slugging percentage. Both were named to the USA Softball Player of the Year Top 50 Watch List heading into the season. In the circle, while the Wildcats don’t have their ace from a year ago in Alyssa Denham, they do return Hanah Bowen, who appeared in 21 games with 16 starts, pitched 102.0 innings and had a 2.06 ERA. Arizona graduated another pitcher in Mariah Lopez, so Bowen returns as Arizona’s top pitcher in 2022.
U of A has six newcomers on the roster this year with four freshmen and two transfers in Blaise Biringer from Ole Miss and Bailey Thompson from Seattle U. Arizona lost five starters from a season ago, returning four in Sharlize Palacios (C), Carlie Scupin (1B), Janelle Meoño (LF) ans Hannah Martinez (RF). However, they have to replace Dejah Mulipola (C), Reyna Carranco (2B), Malia Martinez (3B), Jessie Harper (SS) and Alyssa Palomino-Cardoza (CF).
Arizona was picked to finish third in the Pac-12 preseason poll, earning one first-place vote and 45 points.