Lobos Fall to No. 21 Ragin' Cajuns in Louisiana Finale
LAFAYETTE, La.— The Lobos closed the Louisiana Classics Sunday morning against host No. 21 Louisiana, scoring two runs on six hits in the 10-2 loss in five innings.
Rachael Hathoot led the Lobos with two hits, with Emma Bramson, Ashley Archuleta, Katherine Brunner and Elizabeth Baylor each recording a hit. Bramson earned her third RBI of the opening weekend in the third inning that brought UNM within one run.
With two outs in the first inning, Louisiana got on the board on a three-run home run to take an early lead, but the Lobos responded in each of their next two at-bats to manufacture runs.
UNM had its first three hitters reach in the top of the second behind a leadoff double to the gap in left center by Archuleta, a bloop single to shallow left by Brunner and a bunt that rolled past the pitcher by Baylor that loaded the bases. However, a double play on the next at-bat and a grounder to shortstop resulted in only one run coming across and a runner left on third.
Starting pitcher McKenna Guest retired the side in order in the bottom of the second and the Lobos got a run back in the third on heads up base running by Hathoot. After reaching on a single through the left side, the Lobo stole second with the ball getting away from the Ragin’ Cajun second baseman, resulting in Hathoot taking off for third and sliding in safely. Bramson battled during her at-bat, seeing 10 pitches before putting the ball in play and beating out the throw to first as Hathoot scored to make it a one-run game.
The Ragin’ Cajuns scored three runs in the bottom of the third, taking advantage of a bases-loaded fielding error that cleared the bases, and added two runs in the bottom of the fourth. Taylor Snow entered in relief the bottom of the fourth, inheriting a runner on second and no outs and proceeded to retire the first four batters she faced.
Louisiana scored two runs in the bottom of the fifth to end the game.
UNM (1-4) concludes its opening weekend with two upcoming trips to Texas on the schedule next week. The Lobos travel to UTEP for a doubleheader on Wednesday and then Abilene, Texas for the ACU Tournament with five games starting on Feb. 16.