Lobo Softball Opens 2024 Season in Louisiana

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.—The 2024 Lobo Softball season officially begins Friday, with five games in three days in Louisiana. New Mexico opens with Tennessee State and McNeese on Friday in Lake Charles, before heading to Lafayette for the Louisiana Classics against Chattanooga, Cal and No. 21 Louisiana.

SCHEDULE:
Friday @ 12:30 p.m. MT vs. Tennessee State
Friday @ 5:30 p.m. MT at McNeese
Saturday @ 10 a.m. MT vs. Chattanooga
Saturday @ 3 p.m. MT vs. Cal
Sunday @ 8 a.m. MT at Louisiana

Live stats will be available for all five games, however, the only game that will be streamed will be the game against Louisiana which will be on ESPN+.

Historically, the Lobos have previously played all but one opponent, but it has been 20 years (McNeese), 13 years (Louisiana), 10 years (Tennessee State) and four years (Cal) since the last meeting.

UNM is 0-1 all-time against Tennessee State, with the last game back on Feb. 16, 2014, a 6-4 loss. Against McNeese, UNM is 4-0 with the last game back on March 14, 2004, a 4-2 win. This will  be the first meeting against Chattanooga in program history. The Lobos are 1-5 against Cal with the last game a 5-3 loss on Feb. 23, 2020. Against Louisiana, the Lobos are 0-2 with the last game back on March 19, 2011, an 8-4 loss when Louisiana was ranked 19th.

A LOOK BACK AT 2023
The Lobos made statistical improvements in Coach Nicole Dickson’s first year at UNM, both in NCAA rankings and among program single-season stats.

When it comes to program milestones:

• The .299 batting average was the best batting average since 2015 and tied the best batting average in the last 11 years. UNM’s 231 runs were the most since 2016, the 399 hits were the most since 2015, the 14 triples were the most since 2010, the 214 RBI the most since 2015 as was the .368 on-base percentage. The 40 stolen bases were the most since 2013.
• UNM pitched 4 shutouts, the most since 2013 and turned 22 double plays, the most since 2015.

UNM improved from 2022 to 2023 in 8 NCAA statistical categories:

• The Lobos improved 141 spots in double plays turned per game (finished 27th with .44), improved 88 spots in triples per game (29th at .28), 87 spots in stolen bases per game (192nd at .80), 86 spots in batting average (45th at .299), 49 spots in runs per game (95th at 4.62), 46 spots in on-base percentage (68th at .368), 16 spots in shutouts (189 at 4) and 12 spots in slugging percentage (88th at .422).

On opening weekend last season, UNM beat No. 19 Oregon State 8-0 in five innings for the first win against a ranked opponent since 2016 and the first run-rule of a ranked opponent since 2012.

UNM had two players finish in the top 4 in the MW in batting average, with one returner in Rachael Hathoot (second at .396) and Hathoot also finished in the top 5 in the MW in hits (fifth at 59). Both Hathoot and Ashley Archuleta were among the top 2 in triples with Hathoot leading with seven and Archuleta tied for second with five.

The Lobos had two MW Freshman of the Week and Player of the Week award winners and one MW Pitcher of the Week winner.

UNM also had two First Team All-Mountain West players in Archuleta and Hathoot, the second for Archuleta and first for Hathoot, and the first time that UNM has had two earn spots on the first team since 2014.

BY THE NUMBERS
UNM was 14-6 when scoring in the first inning and 13-5 when scoring first last season. The Lobos were 11-3 when leading after one, 13-1 when leading after two and 12-1 when leading after three. As the game went on, the Lobos were 13-3 when leading after the fourth inning, 11-2 when leading after five and 12-0 when leading after the sixth inning.

UNM was 19-4 when outhitting its opponent last season and had 22 games with double-digit hits and was 16-6 when reaching double figures.

FRESH PERSPECTIVE
The Lobos revamped their roster with 12 freshmen and a total of 15 newcomers. Of the freshmen, UNM added four pitchers, three outfielders, three utility players and two infielders. UNM also added three transfers in junior catcher/ infielder Sydney Carithers, junior pitcher Emily Brouse and sophomore outfielder Taylor Morgan.

LAST ONE, BEST ONE FOR RACHAEL
After earning Mountain West All-Conference First Team last season, New Mexico shortstop Rachael Hathoot has been selected by the conference coaches to the All-Mountain West Preseason Team, one of 12 position players and the only Lobo to earn the preseason distinction.

“Rachael is a top three player in the Mountain West Conference,” commented head softball coach Nicole Dickson. “She is talented, competitive and has a high game IQ. She’s been a leader and set the tone from day 1. Her mentality, work ethic and drive are consistent, and I believe her best softball is in front of her this season.”

Hathoot enters the season after hitting .414 with a .643 slugging percentage and a .468 on-base percentage in 22 MW games in 2023. Against conference opponents, Hathoot recorded 29 hits, which included five doubles, four triples and a home run for 45 total bases and accounted for 19 runs and 13 RBI.

The Albuquerque native led the Lobos in runs scored, was second in batting average, slugging percentage, on-base percentage, hits and total bases, tied for the team lead in triples and was third in runs batted in. Hathoot had nine multiple hit games with at least one hit in 18 conference games as well as seven MW games with at least one RBI and three games with multiple RBI.

Among the MW, Hathoot finished tied for second in triples, fifth in hits, sixth in batting average, ninth in total bases, 11th in slugging percentage, 13th in on-base percentage and tied for 13th in runs scored. In addition, Hathoot turned six double plays, tied for the second most among conference players, and was third in assists (54).

IT STARTS IN THE CIRCLE
From the time she was hired, Coach Dickson has repeatedly stated that success starts in the circle, and it starts with veteran returners Amber Linton and Taylor Snow.

It all starts with returner Amber Linton, who appeared in a team-high 32 games and 25 starts, throwing 14 complete games and 158.2 innings last season. Linton led the MW with 164 strikeouts and 48 looking, while also leading in innings pitched. Her 14 complete games doubled her total from her sophomore season and in addition, she threw three shutouts and had 15 games with five or more strikeouts. Linton set a career high with 14 strikeouts at Utah State, one of three games that she finished with 10+ strikeouts. Her 164 strikeouts ranked 58th in the NCAA and were the fifth most in a single season in program history.

• The RHP’s 7.24 strikeouts per game in 2023 was the single-season program record, breaking her own record of 6.97 she set in 2022.
• Linton enters her senior season needing 123 strikeouts to set the career record at UNM, with the Lobo recording over 150 strikeouts her first two seasons at UNM.

On Linton, Coach Dickson commented that, “Amber has been grinding all offseason to expand her pitch resume. She is the veteran of the staff and she’s going to get the ball. I believe she has a chip on her shoulder from last season- she’s hungry to win and her work ethic backs it up. If she commands the zone and we play defense behind her, she has the ability to be one of the top 3 pitchers in the Mountain West.”

In her first season at UNM, Snow appeared in 29 games with 14 starts, throwing two complete games. She finished with a 4.86 ERA, pitching 90.2 innings and allowing 83 runs (63 earned), 128 hits, striking out 28 and walking 29. Snow had the second-most appearances, starts, innings pitched and strikeouts on the pitching staff and recorded two strikeouts in eight games with a season-high three strikeouts at Texas Tech on March 12.

The Lobos added five pitchers, four of which are freshmen, in the offseason in McKenna Guest (RHP), Kenzie Jones (RHP) and Alina Ortiz (RHP) and Brooke Umali (LHP) and junior Emily Brouse (RHP), who previously played at Odessa.

LIFE ON THE ROAD
The Lobos have 13 of 54 total games at home.  UNM’s first 17 games of the season will be on the road, taking the Lobos to Louisiana and three times to Texas before the home opener on Feb. 28 against Texas Tech.

Following the Feb. 28 home game, the Lobos don’t have another home game until the MW series against UNLV starting on March 22, which includes a prolonged stay on the road with a tournament in Phoenix and the Lobos heading straight to Honolulu.

JUMP RIGHT IN
UNM opens the season with three teams that made the NCAA Tournament a season ago in McNeese, Cal and Louisiana, with Louisiana advancing to the Super Regionals and both Cal and McNeese making their regional finals.

Louisiana ranks 21 in the ESPN.com/USA Softball preseason poll with McNeese receiving votes. Louisiana ranks 21 in the USA Today/ NFCA Coaches Poll with Cal (6) and McNeese (5) receiving votes. Louisiana also ranks 21 in the D1 Softball preseason poll.

NO LET UP IN NON-CONFERENCE
Entering her second season at UNM, Coach Dickson put together a schedule that includes seven teams that competed in the NCAA Tournament last season (McNeese, Cal, Louisiana, Marist, Minnesota, GCU, and San Diego State from the MW) with a team that advanced to the Super Regionals, 15 teams that won over 30 games and three teams that won over 40 games last season.

The Lobos will face three Power 5 teams in Cal (Pac-12), Minnesota (Big Ten) and Texas Tech (Big 12).

ABOUT TENNESSEE STATE
Tennessee State enters the season after going 22-26-1 last season, and 12-11 in the Ohio Valley Conference.

The Tigers were led by Ryla Traylor, who hit .319 with a team-high 46 hits, while Onnika Spencer led with 12 doubles, nine home runs, 31 RBI and a .574 slugging percentage, both of which return this season.

Caitlyn Manus led the Tigers in the circle last season, appearing in 37 games with 26 starts and carried a 3.81 ERA and a 16-14 record.

Nahtali Simpson returns as the biggest threat on the base path, going 10-10 in stolen bases. As a team, TSU was 30-36, while opponents went 52-60.

Tennessee State was picked to finish sixth in the OVC with 80 points after finishing sixth last season.

ABOUT MCNEESE
McNeese advanced to the NCAA Regional Final last season, losing to Washington 7-6 to end its season at 47-16.

The Cowgirls were projected to win the Southland Conference this season, earning 16 out of 18 first-place votes and 128 points. McNeese had eight players on the preseason team with Shortstop Reese Reyna, utility Chloe Gomez, outfielder Erin Ardoin, and pitcher Ashley Vallejo named to the first team. First baseman Crislyne Moreno, second baseman Mariana Torres, third baseman Rylie Bouvier, and pitcher Shaelyn Sanders were named to the second team.

Reyna is the top returner at the plate with 55 hits and a .371 on-base percentage and .309 batting average, while Torres led the team with 14 doubles, 38 RBI and a .440 slugging percentage last season. Reyna is also the top returner when it comes to stolen bases, going 25-29 in 2023. As a team, McNeese went 147-172 in stolen bases.

In the circle, the Cowgirls lost their top pitcher from last season with Ashley Vallejo the top returner with 32 appearances, 25 starts and 13 complete games. The RHP finished with a 2.25 ERA and a 19-9 record, pitching 152.1 innings and striking out a team-high 112 to walking 55.

ABOUT CHATTANOOGA
Chattanooga went 25-27 last season, 7-11 in the SoCon. As a team, the Mocs were picked to finish fourth in the preseason poll with five on the Southern Conference Preseason All-Conference Team. Addy Keylon was named to the first team after starting all 50 games last season and hit .291 with nine home runs, 21 RBI and a .556 slugging percentage.

Kaili Phillips led the team last season with a .333 batting average, 13 doubles, 10 home runs, 89 total bases, a .674 slugging percentage and a .477 on-base percentage.

Peja Goold led the Mocs with a 2.59 ERA and throwing a team-high 100.0 innings, compiling a team-high 95 strikeouts. RHP Alyssa Lavdis made the most appearances in 2023 at 26, went 6-2 and tied Goold for the team high in complete games with four.

ABOUT CAL
Cal reached the NCAA Regional Final against Oklahoma last season, losing 16-3 in five innings to finish 35-21-1. The Golden Bears went 9-14-1 in the Pac-12.

Tatum Anzaldo was named to the Pac-12 Preseason All-Conference Team after hitting .383 with a .578 slugging percentage and .463 on-base percentage with 59 hits, 13 doubles, one triple, five home runs and 24 RBI.

RHP Haylei Archer is the top returner after making a team-high 40 appearances with 25 starts last season, recording six complete games and a team-best three saves. Archer finished with a 3.50 ERA and threw a team-high 126.0 innings, striking out 76 and walking 77.

Cal was picked to finish seventh in the Pac-12 preseason poll with 26 points.

ABOUT LOUISIANA
The Ragin’ Cajuns went 50-16, 22-2 in the Sun Belt and 22-2 at home last season. Louisiana advanced out of the NCAA Baton Rouge Regional, losing in two games to Washington in the NCAA Super Regionals.  It was the first time that Louisiana won 50 games since 2019 and the first Super Regional appearance since 2016.

Louisiana was voted the unanimous preseason favorite in the Sun Belt with 12 first-place votes, the sixth consecutive year being picked as the favorite. Mihyia Davis was selected to the preseason team after being named the SBC Freshman of the Year last season.

Davis led the team with a .380 batting average, 70 hits, and 52 stolen bases, while Lauren Allred led with a .721 slugging percentage and a .469 on-base percentage.

RHP Sam Landry led the pitching staff with 42 appearances, 29 starts, eight complete games, four shutouts and 19 wins, throwing a team-high 147.2 innings. Landry compiled a 2.13 ERA and struck out 150 while allowing 64 walks.