Lobos Lose Lead Late in Loss to Aggies
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.— Taryn Young accounted for both Lobo runs in Saturday’s game against Utah State as the Lobos took the 2-1 lead in the bottom of the fifth, but the Aggies rallied for three runs in the top of the seventh to take the 4-2 win.
UNM outhit USU 11-7 in the game, with two hits each by Andrea Howard and Ashley Archuleta at the top of the lineup, as well as a hit for Peyton Robinson, Janae Cameron, Diamond Sandoval, Reyan Tuck, Emma Bramson, Briana Martinez and Young. However, the Lobos couldn’t capitalize, leaving the bases loaded in the fifth and two runners on in three innings.
Utah State took the early lead with the leadoff runner reaching base on a throwing error, advancing to second on the play. A wild pitch advanced the runner another base and a single up the middle for the run. Starting pitcher Emma Guindon got out of the inning on a strikeout, a fly ball to left and a foul out to the catcher, leaving a runner on third.
The Lobos responded to tie the game in the bottom half of the inning, with Robinson reaching base via a hit for the 19th-straight game on a bunt single. A fielder’s choice and a fly ball to right put two runners in scoring position and Young brought in the first run on a hit to the shortstop, with the Aggie infielder unable to throw the ball home in time to get Robinson. Like in the top of the inning, the Lobos left a runner on third as the inning came to an end.
Double plays were the story of the second inning, with each team executing one to eliminate leadoff runners, and after the Lobo defense retired the side in order in the top of the third, the Lobos nearly took the lead on a Howard hit that nearly missed clearing the wall in left, but ended as a double with Howard left stranded.
Each team left two runners on, including a runner in scoring position in the fourth, and the Lobos finally broke the tie in the fifth in part to the top of the lineup. Archuleta hit a one-out single to left followed by a single up the middle by Howard to move Archuleta all the way to third. Young put the Lobos in front on a single through the left side to bring in Archuleta. Olivia Birkinshaw drew a two-out walk on a full-count to load the bases. Tuck hit a ball to shallow right field, with the Aggie second baseman making a sliding, over-the-shoulder grab to end the inning and kept the Lobos from adding any more runs.
Amber Linton entered in relief to start the sixth and worked around a two-out single with a grounder to Archuleta at second and stayed in to start the seventh. The Aggies had their first three batters reach base on two singles and a hit-by-pitch, but the Lobos were able to get the first out on a liner to Archuleta. A single to right field plated two runs as the Aggies took the lead, and a sacrifice fly to Howard in center added a third run in the inning.
Archuleta led off the bottom of the seventh with a single up the middle and Sandoval entered with two outs to pinch hit, reaching on a hard hit back to the pitcher to put the tying run on board. The Lobos were unable to keep the inning going as USU recorded the third out for the 4-2 win.
Guindon pitched 5.1 innings, allowing one run (unearned) on three hits with four strikeouts and no walks allowed.
Of note, Robinson extended her hit streak to 19 games, while Archuleta extended her on-base streak to 19 games and Howard extended her on-base streak to 13 games.
The Lobos close out the series with Utah State on Sunday with first pitch scheduled for noon.