Lobos Drop First Game of Series to Rams
FORT COLLINS, Colo.— Andrea Howard added to her home run total and Briana Martinez added a solo home run of her own to account for New Mexico’s two runs in Friday’s 5-2 loss to Colorado State.
For Howard, it was her 14th home run of the season and extended her hit streak to nine games and her on-base streak to 18 games. For Martinez, it was the infielder’s fourth of the season.
The Lobos got on the board first, taking the 1-0 lead on Howard’s two-out solo home run. However, the Rams answered with two runs on three hits in the bottom of the inning, on a single to left, a triple down the right-field line and a double down the left-field line.
UNM had a chance to find the equalizer as Emma Bramson led off the second with a single to right, moving to scoring position on the play as the Ram outfielder overthrew first, reaching the backstop and allowing Bramson to take second, but the Lobo was stranded on second as the next three batters were unable to move her any further.
Martinez erased the deficit to start the third inning, driving the 3-2 pitch over the left-field wall to give the Lobos new life, although as was the case in the first, CSU reclaimed the lead in its at-bats in its half of the inning.
CSU added two more runs in the fourth, benefitting from a Lobo fielding error that allowed the two runs to score with two outs.
Down to their final three outs in the top of the seventh, Reyan Tuck led off with a single and Martinez drew a walk to bring the tying run to the plate with one out. Pinch hitting for Peyton Robinson, Janae Cameron hit into a fielder’s choice with Martinez out at second to put runners on the corners, but a strikeout ended the game.
Amber Linton started in the circle for the Lobos, going 3.0 innings and striking out one. Emma Guindon entered to start the fourth, pitching the final 3.0 innings and struck out one as well.
UNM falls to 21-15, 1-6 in the Mountain West following Friday’s game. Game two of the series is scheduled for Saturday at 1 p.m. on the Mountain West Network.