Comeback Comes Up Short in Season Finale at UNLV
LAS VEGAS, Nev.— The Lobos scored the first three runs of Saturday’s game against UNLV with the Rebels responding with two runs in the first and six runs in the second before UNM rallied to tie the game at nine in the sixth. However, the Rebels scored the go-ahead run in the bottom of the sixth in the 10-9 final.
Hitting in the leadoff spot, Peyton Robinson went 4-4 in her final game as a Lobo, bringing in the tying run on a hit back up the middle in the sixth, while Ashley Archuleta led with three RBI including a double that brought UNM within one in the fifth. Senior Leslie Romero went 3-4 with two RBI, with the Lobos finishing with 17 hits in the game, the second-highest total this season only behind the 18 hits against Utah State on March 19.
Robinson and Rachael Hathoot got the game started with consecutive singles to the outfield with Lauren Garcia drawing a one-out walk to load the bases. Romero opened the scoring with a single up the middle that brought both Robinson and Hathoot in, with Reyan Tuck following up with a single through the left side that scored the third run.
UNLV got two runs back in its first at-bats, adding six runs on four hits in the second. The Lobo comeback started in the top of the third after Keyannah Chavez and Romero each reached on a walk with Chavez moving to third on a fly ball to right by Tuck and scoring on a wild pitch. A Rebel run in the bottom half of the inning kept the deficit at five, but the Lobos chipped away with two more runs in both the fourth and fifth and a run in the sixth for the equalizer.
Robinson was again involved, opening the fourth on a walk, moving to second on a wild pitch, eventually coming in to score on a grounder back to the pitcher with the Lobo breaking for home on the throw to first. After Garcia walked following a full count, Chavez drove in Hathoot on a single through the right side to make it 9-6.
While reliever Amber Linton kept the Rebels off the board in the fourth, UNM retained momentum with two more runs in the fifth. Entering to pinch hit to start the inning, senior Janae Cameron hit a ball off the wall for a single with Maddie Boldt re-entering to pinch run. A single by Robinson and fly ball to right moved two runners into scoring position to set up a bases-clearing double to the gap in left center by Archuleta to bring the Lobos within one at 9-8.
Linton retired the side in order in the bottom of the fifth and the Lobos continued to put pressure on the Rebels with the first three batters reaching base in the top of the sixth. With the lineup turned over, Robinson completed the comeback with a single back up the middle to score Romero, although the Lobos were unable to take the lead with the second runner thrown out at the plate on the play.
Tied at nine heading to the bottom of the sixth, a leadoff double, stolen base and bunt scored the go-ahead run for UNLV. UNM was unable to get a baserunner in the top of the seventh in the 10-9 final.
In the circle, Linton threw 4.1 innings, allowing two runs on one hit while striking out five.
UNM’s season comes to a close with a 19-31 overall record, going 6-16 in conference play.