Lobos Fall to Golden Gophers to Close UNT Invite

DENTON, Texas— New Mexico held Minnesota scoreless for the first four innings before the Golden Gophers broke open the game in the fifth, scoring 10 runs in the last three innings for a 10-1 final on Sunday.

Karly Smith went 2-2 to lead the Lobos at the plate, accounting for two of UNM’s five hits. Rachael Hathoot, Emma Bramson and DeNae Vasquez-Dickson provided the remaining hits.

Both teams had opportunities early, putting two runners on in the first inning with neither team able to push any runs across. For the Lobos, Keyannah Chavez reached on a walk with Hathoot reaching on an error. Bramson’s fielder choice put runners on the corners, where they were left stranded.

The Golden Gophers continued to stress the Lobo defense, with the Lobos getting out of bases-loaded situations in both the second and fourth innings, with a grounder to shortstop in the second and a double play in the fourth on a liner to third to keep the game scoreless.

UNM had its leadoff hitter reach in the bottom of the fourth as Hathoot singled through the right side and Bramson laid down a sacrifice bunt to put a runner in scoring position, but the inning ended on a strikeout and groundout.

Minnesota got on the board in the fifth inning behind three doubles and a hit by pitch, scoring four runs on four hits. The Golden Gophers added three runs in the top of the sixth and again in the seventh.

UNM plated a run in the bottom of the sixth with Hathoot drawing a walk following a full count, and Bramson put runners on the corners with a single to right field and Hathoot moving to third. Katherine Brunner reached on a fielder’s choice with Hathoot coming in to score.

In the home half of the seventh, the Lobos had two runners in scoring position after Vasquez-Dickson reached on an error to start the inning and Smith singled up the middle. With the lineup turned over, Ashley Archuleta moved them both over on a grounder to second, where they were left on base.

UNM left a total of seven runners on board with Minnesota leaving 11.

McKenna Guest (3-7) got the start in the circle for the Lobos, going 5.0 innings before being relieved by Taylor Snow, who went 1.1 innings. Brooke Umali made her second appearance of the weekend, recording outs on the only two batters she faced.

Up next: The Lobos’ home opener is on Wednesday, Feb. 28 against Texas Tech at 1 p.m.