UNM Scores Two in Seventh to Walk-Off Charlotte
PHOENIX, Ariz.— Getting the start in right field, Olivia Birkinshaw delivered in the biggest moments of Sunday’s game against Charlotte, hitting a solo home run in the bottom of the sixth to tie the game at four, and hit a double in the bottom of the seventh for the walk-off as UNM won 7-6.
The Lobos trailed four times against Charlotte and responded each time to either tie or take the lead.
The first instance came in the first after the Niners hit a solo home run to gain the early lead. However, UNM answered in the bottom of the inning with Birkinshaw singling through the left side to move Rachael Hathoot over to second and Lauren Garcia gave the Lobos the lead with a double to left center that scored both runners.
After neither team was able to get a runner on in the second, Charlotte took the lead in the third, benefitting from a throwing error on a stolen base attempt that scored a run and a single to left field that scored another run for the 3-2 lead.
UNM tied it up in the fourth with Chloe Yeatts reaching via a walk and Emma Bramson reaching on a bunt. A double by Jenna Trim brought pinch-runner Evany Gonzalez around to score for the tying run.
Charlotte had bases loaded with one out in the top of the fifth, but Amber Linton evaded any damage with a force out at home and a strikeout to keep the game tied at three.
The Niners again took the lead in the top of the sixth on three-straight singles, all with two outs, although the lead was short lived as Birkinshaw led off the bottom half with a home run to center. Garcia followed that up by reaching on an error by the Charlotte right fielder, taking second on the play, and Yeatts put the Lobos back in front at 5-4 with a single to the outfield.
Charlotte reclaimed the lead in the top of the seventh on a two-run home run before Taylor Snow entered in relief of Linton and prevented any further runs from scoring.
Down to their final two outs, Keyannah Chavez got the rally started with a single through the left side and Hathoot drove her in on a double to left field to tie the game at six. Birkinshaw ended the game on the next at-bat with a double of her own scoring Hathoot for the walk-off.
The heart of the order came through for the Lobos with Hathoot 2-4 and one RBI, Birkinshaw 3-4 with two RBI, and Garcia with two RBI. The trio combined for three doubles with the Lobos finishing with a season-high four doubles in the game.
Linton threw 6.0 innings with nine strikeouts, while Snow threw 1.0 innings and recorded one strikeout and one hit in relief, earning the win.
UP NEXT: The Lobos head to Texas Tech for the Texas Tech Invitational, set to begin on Friday, March 10.