Lobos Drop Doubleheader to Broncos Friday

BOISE, Idaho— The Lobos dropped both games of Friday’s doubleheader, with the Lobo offense unable to match Boise State’s run production falling 13-4 in five innings in the first game and 8-0 in five innings in the second game.

Briana Martinez led the Lobos with two RBI on the day following a two-run home run in game one, while four Lobos finished with two hits between the two games in Andrea Howard, Janae Cameron, Leslie Romero and Ashley Archuleta. Howard was also walked a team-high two times in game one, one of which was intentional.

After leaving the bases loaded in the first inning of game one, UNM used a two-out rally and an error to plate a run for the early lead. Peyton Robinson drew a walk following a full count to turn the lineup over, and Archuleta hit a ball towards second baseman, with the Bronco diving to her left to keep the grounder in the infield, threw to first from her knees, with Archuleta beating out the throw. However, on the play, Robinson rounded second for third, and the Bronco first baseman attempted to get the out at third and threw the ball away, allowing Robinson to score.

Starter Amber Linton held the Broncos to one hit through the first two innings as the Lobos held the 1-0 lead, but errors unraveled the Lobos in the third and allowed BSU to break open the game with nine runs.

Following a leadoff single to left in the bottom of the third, a Lobo throwing error allowed the leadoff hitter to score from first to tie the game. Consecutive hit-by-pitches loaded the basesand led to Ashlyn Roberts entering in the circle in relief. A walk broke the tie, and a single to right and a sacrifice fly score two more runs. After what would have been the third out, BSU scored five runs, taking a 9-1 lead before the Lobos got out of the inning on a Reyan Tuck diving catch in foul territory.

The Lobos answered with a run in the fourth, with Cameron leading off the inning with a double down the left-field line, beating out the throw to second. A wild pitch moved Cameron to third and Howard brought her home on a single the dropped out of the reach of the Bronco shortstop in shallow left field.

However, Boise State scored four runs on four hits in the bottom of the inning.

Emma Bramson hit a one-out single in the fifth inning to set up a Martinez home run to left center for her seventh home run of the season and the final runs of the game.

Game two was more of a defensive battle early, with nether team able to push a run across in the first three innings. Boise State scored a run in the bottom of the fourth on a solo home run before scoring seven runs on six hits in the fifth inning to enforce the run-rule.

Howard had the only hit of the game for the Lobos on a single in the third.

With rain projected in the forecast on Saturday, UNM closes out the series with Boise State on Sunday at noon.