Lobos Run-Rule Ohio Following Six-Run Fourth Inning
BEAUMONT, Texas— The Lobo softball team closed the Cardinal Classic with an emphatic 9-1 win over the Ohio Bobcats, recording 11 hits and scoring nine runs in five innings.
Ashley Archuleta and Emma Bramson each went 2-for-3 at the plate with Bramson driving in two runs in her at-bats, and Andrea Howard went 2-for-4 that included a three-run home run as part of a six-run fourth inning for New Mexico.
Amber Linton got the start in the circle and threw 4.0 innings, allowing just two hits and one run while striking out four. Emma Guindon closed in the final inning and didn’t allow a runner to reach base in an efficient 10-pitch inning.
After a scoreless first inning, with Linton and the Lobo defense retiring the side in order, Ohio was the first on the scoreboard in the top of the second, to which the Lobos promptly answered in the bottom half of the inning.
Bramson walked after working a full count on a nine-pitch at-bat where the freshman fouled off three-straight pitches and was behind 1-2 in the count. Briana Martinez dropped a sacrifice bunt, but was able to reach safely on an error by the Bobcat catcher to put two runners on. Peyton Robinson reached on an error by the Ohio shortstop, allowing Bramson to come around and score to tie the game.
The Lobos took the lead in the bottom of the third, with Howard leading off with a double to right center. Olivia Birkinshaw moved her over on a sacrifice bunt and Bramson brought her in with a single to right field.
New Mexico’s offense put the game out of reach in the fourth, scoring six runs on five hits, with the Lobos also the beneficiaries of three OU errors.
Leslie Romero started off the inning with a single to center and stole second on Robinson’s following at-bat. Robinson also singled to the outfield to put runners on the corners. The Lobos continued to be aggressive on the base paths, with Robinson stealing second and Romero scoring on an error by the catcher. After Archuleta walked (on a 3-2 count, the third of the inning for UNM), Howard cleared the bases with a home run to right field that made it 6-1. Birkinshaw reached base on a hit-by-pitch and moved in to scoring position after stealing second, the third stolen base for UNM in the inning. Birkinshaw advanced to third on Bramson’s at-bat and scored on an infield single by Martinez. Martinez ran to second on the play following an error by the Ohio shortstop and then to third on an error by the catcher. Reyan Tuck singled through the right side of the infield to score Martinez for the 8-1 lead.
All nine batters in the lineup had an at-bat in the fourth, with Romero recording the third out of the inning in her second plate appearance of the fourth.
Guindon entered to pitch to start the fifth and the Lobos sat the Bobcats down in order.
In the bottom of the fifth, Archuleta singled up the middle, Young reached on a fielder’s choice and Howard reached on an error by the second baseman to put Young at second and Howard at first. Birkinshaw reached on an error by the third baseman to load the bases and Bramson ended the game with a single through the right side to score Young for the run-rule. Sunday’s result was UNM’s second run-rule win of the season.
The Lobos went 4-1 at the Cardinal Classic to move to 6-3 on the season, while Linton moves to 4-1 in the circle.
Up next for the Lobos: UNM hosts the Lobo Classic, starting with UTEP on Thursday, Feb. 24 at 4 p.m. The Lobos will host UTEP, North Dakota State, Buffalo and Tarleton State in a four-day tournament.