Home Runs Power Lobos Past Aggies
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.— New Mexico hit a season-high three home runs, including two by Maddie Boldt, and scored five runs in the fifth inning to defeat New Mexico State 8-2 on Tuesday afternoon.
Tuesday marked the third-straight game that the Lobos have scored eight runs and registered double-digit hits for the fifth-straight game after recording 11 against the Aggies.
UNM had five of its six leadoff hitters reach base, starting with Peyton Robinson who led off the bottom of the first with a double after battling in an 11-pitch at-bat. Rachael Hathoot gave the Lobos the early lead with a single up the middle that scored Robinson.
After starting pitcher Emmalyn Brinka gave up a leadoff single in the top of the first, the freshman pitcher got outs against the next nine Aggies before NMSU scored two runs on two hits in the top of the fourth.
The Aggie lead didn’t last long as the Lobos answered in the bottom half of the inning with Lauren Garcia leading off with a single to left, a sacrifice bunt by Keyannah Chavez that moved pinch runner Olivia Birkinshaw over to second, and two at-bats later, a two-run home run to center from Boldt to reclaim the lead for good for UNM.
Brinka again retired the Aggies in order in the fifth and the Lobos further increased their lead in the home half with five runs on three hits, two of which were home runs. Robinson led off with a bunt and Ashley Archuleta moved her over with a sacrifice bunt before Hathoot walked and Robinson moved to third on a wild pitch. Garcia launched the 1-1 pitch over the wall in left center for the three-run home run (her second home run of the season) and after Chavez walked on four-straight pitches, taking second on a wild pitch and later stealing third, Chloe Yeatts drove her in on a sacrifice fly to center. On the next at-bat, Boldt hit her second home run of the game and in the second-straight inning with a solo home run to center for the final run of the inning and her eighth home run of the season.
NMSU had two runners reach in the sixth before a grounder back to Brinka in the circle ended the inning, the final threat to UNM’s lead as Brinka recorded the final three outs in order in the top of the seventh for the 8-2 win.
Brinka threw her second complete game of the season, allowing just four hits in the game and striking out three.
Garcia and Boldt each finished with three RBI in the game, each going 2-3 at the plate, while Robinson went 3-3. Seven different Lobos had at least one hit.
Also of note, Hathoot extended on-base streak to 19 and her hitting streak to 14, with Chavez extending her on-base streak to 13 and her hitting streak to five, and Robinson extending her on-base and hitting streak to 12.
The Lobos (16-18, 3-3 MW) resume conference play at Fresno State starting on Friday evening at 7 p.m. MT/ 6 p.m. PT.