Howard Hits Home Run as Lobos Fall to Aztecs in Five
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.— Andrea Howard made sure her senior weekend was memorable, hitting a three-run home run on Friday night against San Diego State to add to her legacy.
However, the Aztecs put seven runs on the board early and added five runs in the fifth to win 12-3 in five innings.
The Lobos had four hits in the game, with Ashley Archuleta, Howard, Sydney Broderick and Emma Bramson each accounting for one. Archuleta recorded UNM’s first hit of the game on a double to left field, but was left standing on third after Howard hit a deep fly ball to center that reached the warning track.
As for the Aztecs, SDSU put two runs on the board in the first inning, with the Lobos committing two errors in the inning that allowed the leadoff hitter to reach and advance to second, who later came around to score on a hit up the middle, and a throwing error later in the inning that allowed a run to score from second.
SDSU added five more runs in the second inning on four hits before Howard got the Lobos on the board in the third inning.
Broderick led off the inning with a single up the middle, with Bramson following suit with a single to left center on the first pitch of her at-bat. A popup and fielder’s choice brought Howard to the plate, with the Albuquerque native driving the first pitch of her at-bat to straight center and well over the outfield wall for the three-run home run.
With the home run, Howard now has a conference-best 18 home runs this season and has hit a home run in six Mountain West series. With her home run, her slugging percentage this season increased to .880, also a conference best, and she now has 55 RBI on the season, which ranks second all-time by a Lobo in a single season.
Neither team scored in the fourth inning, with the Lobos getting out of the top of the fourth on a 6-4-3 double play, but SDSU added five final runs in the top of the fifth on three hits for the 12-3 final score.
UNM closes out the 2022 season on Sunday at noon, with the Lobos set to honor super seniors Broderick, Howard and Taryn Young as well as senior Emma Guindon before the game.