Lobos Host Fresno State Starting Thursday

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.—After two weeks on the road, the Lobo softball team returns home to host Fresno State in a three-game series starting Thursday night at 6 p.m.

Friday’s first pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m. and Saturday at 11 a.m., with all games streamed on the Mountain West Network with live stats available.

One key to success this series is if the Lobos can put pressure on the opposing pitchers early and can get on the board first. The Lobos have scored 29 runs in the first inning, outscoring opponents 29-18, for the greatest run differential by inning. UNM is 16-5 when scoring first in a game and 12-5 when scoring in the first inning.

While the lineup shifted in the last series at Colorado State, the top of the lineup has continued to set the tone for the Lobos with Ashley Archuleta and Andrea Howard.

Hitting in the three spot this season, Howard leads the conference in total bases and slugging percentage, is second in overall hits, batting average and runs-batted-in and is tied for first in home runs. She is also fifth in on-base percentage, tied for third in triples and sixth in walks. In conference games, she is sixth in batting average (.393) and slugging percentage (.750), seventh in on-base percentage (.485), tied for eighth in home runs and doubles, ninth in total bases. Besides leading in home runs, Howard leads the Lobos in batting average, slugging percentage, on-base percentage, RBI, hits, doubles, triples, runs scored and total bases. She is also second in walks. Archuleta is third on the team in batting average (.331) and on-base percentage (.411) and is second in hits (41) and total bases (48).

The visiting Bulldogs are 11-28 on the season and 4-8 in the Mountain West under first-year head coach Stacy May-Johnson. Fresno State is coming off of a series win against Utah State, winning the last two games of the series 4-3 (8 innings) and 10-2 after losing the first game against the Aggies 9-3. Fresno State also has a series win against San José State (won 4-2 and 5-1, lost 4-0). The Bulldogs were swept by Boise State and San Diego State to start conference play. Fresno State shares one common non-conference opponent with UNM in Santa Clara, losing both games by scores of 8-0 (6 innings) and 6-2.

Keahilele Mattson leads the team in batting average (.292), slugging percentage (.510), on-base percentage (.409), hits (28), doubles (9), triples (3) and total bases (49). Alesia Denby leads the team with five home runs and Bailey Williams leads with 16 RBI. In conference, Avery Lawley leads the team with a .389 batting average and 14 hits and is tied with Williams with seven RBI. Mattson leads with eight walks, five doubles and a .463 slugging percentage and .420 on-base percentage. Denby has two home runs with Kacey Hvitved accouting for the other team home run. On the base paths, the Bulldogs are 12-18 in stolen bases in conference games with Denby 3-3, Taryn Irigoyen 2-2, Emery Nielson 2-4 and Alana Cobb-Adams 3-4. On the season, Fresno State is 36-46 with Mattson and Irigoyen both 4-4, Denby 6-6, Cobb-Adams 7-9, Nielson 6-9 and Alyssa Orr 4-7.

In the circle, Fresno State has had five pitchers make an appearance this season, led by Casey Dixon with 30 appearances. Dixon has thrown three complete games with 12 starts and has a 4.65 ERA. The RHP has thrown 81.1 innings, allowing 89 hits, 51 runs (42 earned), striking out 44 batters and walking 33. Cassidy West has started a team-high 13 games and pitched a team-high 101.0 innings with two complete games and 29 appearances. A RHP, West has a 6.24 ERA with 122 hits allowed, 90 runs (70 earned), 100 strikeouts and 50 walks. Marley Hanlon has appeared in 21 games with eight starts and has a 7.20 ERA in 50.0 innings. A LHP, Hanlon has allowed 81 hits, 56 runs (40 earned) with 24 strikeouts and seven walks. As a staff, the Bulldog pitching staff has a 6.36 ERA with seven complete games and two shutouts, allowing 316 hits, 225 runs (173 earned), 112 walks and 177 strikeouts. In conference play, Fresno State has a 4.55 ERA with 94 hits allowed, 62 runs (44 earned), 63 strikeouts and 39 walks. The Bulldogs have thrown West, Hanlon and Dixon in conference play with Dixon making 11 appearances and seven starts, Hanlon making five starts and eight appearances and West making 11 appearances and one start.