UNM Falls in Game One to Aztecs
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.— The Lobo softball team got on the board first in Thursday’s game with San Diego State, but the Aztecs answered to score seven unanswered runs in the 7-1 final.
New Mexico was able to get runners on base in six of the seven innings with Peyton Robinson and Ashley Archuleta recording two hits each at the top of the lineup. UNM finished with seven hits in the game, and was nearly outhit by the Aztecs’ eight hits.
After starter Amber Linton got out of the first inning, the Lobo offense put pressure on SDSU starter Maggie Balint, with Robinson drawing a four-pitch walk and Archuleta singling through the left side of the infield. Leslie Romero delivered with a hit that reached left field, allowing Robinson to score easily. However, two runners were left in scoring position as the inning came to an end.
SDSU took the lead in the top of the second, benefiting from a Lobo fielding error that extended the inning and two stolen bases, for the 2-1 lead.
Janae Cameron reached on a one-out single to left field but was left standing on first in the bottom half of the second, and while Archuleta and Andrea Howard hit back-to-back singles up the middle in the bottom of the third, a lineout that turned into a double play stopped the scoring opportunity.
The Aztecs added another run in the fourth and four runs on three hits in the fifth for the 7-1 score. Robinson dropped a bunt to lead off the bottom of the fifth and advanced to second on a throwing error by the Aztec pitcher to put a Lobo in scoring position for the first time since the third inning, but was left stranded. Robinson was the next Lobo to reach base on a two-out single to left field in the seventh inning, but a strikeout ended the game.
Linton pitched all 7.0 innings and struck out seven, including striking out Mountain West Player of the Year Mac Barbara twice. Emma Guindon entered the game and faced two batters in the fifth inning before Linton reentered to pitch the remainder of the game.
Game two of the series with the Aztecs is set for Friday at 6 p.m.