UNM Hosts Texas Tech for Home Opener Wednesday
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.— After 17 games on the road to start the season, the Lobos host Texas Tech for their home opener on Wednesday at 1 p.m.
The game will be streamed on the Mountain West Network with live stats available.
KEEP THEM GUESSING
In the 17 games this season, the Lobos have used 16 different lineup combinations. UNM has used the same batting order in only the McNeese and Chattanooga games the first weekend.
The Lobos have used three different players in the leadoff spot, five in the second spot, three in the third spot, five in the cleanup, six in the fifth spot, six in the sixth spot, five in the seventh spot, five in the eighth spot and five in the ninth spot in the lineup.
Rachael Hathoot has led off in 13 games for the most frequency in the lineup, followed by Elizabeth Baylor batting seventh in 12 games. Sydney Carithers has batted eighth in nine games, Chloe Yeatts third and Emma Bramson fifth in eight games each, Keyannah Chavez second in seven games and Katherine Brunner sixth in six games for the most appearances in each spot. DeNae Vasquez-Dickson has hit ninth in five games.
Chavez has made the most movement in the batting order, appearing in six different spots, the most often in second (seven games), three times in the cleanup spot, two times in each the sixth and eighth spot and has hit leadoff and hit fifth in one game each.
In the field, UNM has used four different players in left, six as the designated player, three at third and two in right field, center, behind the plate, first base and second base.
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 were 16-6 when reaching double figures.
The Lobos have twice reached double figures in hits this season: UNM’s win against Tennessee State where the Lobos finished with 12 hits, and 15 hits in the win against Marist on Feb. 16.
UNM is 4-0 this season when scoring at least six runs and 3-0 when outhitting its opponent.
If the Lobos can score in the first inning and hold a lead after the first inning, the Lobos are 3-1 when scoring in the first inning and 3-0 when leading after the first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth innings.
LIFE ON THE ROAD
Wednesday’s home game is the first of the season and one of just 13 total games at home.
UNM’s first 17 games of the season were on the road, taking the Lobos to Louisiana and three times to Texas before the home opener.
Following Wednesday’s 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.
GUEST APPEARANCE
Freshman McKenna Guest has been a frequent presence in the circle for the Lobos, appearing in a team-high 12 games, starting a team-high nine games and throwing four complete games.
The RHP has thrown a team-high 46.2 innings, 22.1 more innings than the next Lobo pitcher, and has a team-best 33 strikeouts, accounting for 49.3% of UNM’s total strikeouts. Guest has also been the pitcher on record in three of UNM’s wins and earned her first save in the win against Marist.
Guest struck out a season-high nine at UTEP and followed that up two days later with seven strikeouts in the first game against Marist. She is averaging 4.95 strikeouts per game.
In her first collegiate appearance, freshman pitcher McKenna Guest entered in the fourth inning with bases loaded and struck out the first two batters she faced. She then limited the Tigers to one hit in both the sixth and seventh innings to keep the Lobos within reach, recording a strikeout in each inning. Guest finished with 4.0 innings pitched, no runs or walk allowed with four hits and four strikeouts.
The Pattonville, Texas native followed the first weekend up with a complete game in the first game at UTEP and of her nine strikeouts, she struck out the side in the sixth. Guest retired the side in order in both the fifth and sixth.
In the win against SFA, Guest went 7.0 innings and allowed three runs (two earned) on five hits, with five scoreless innings including the last three of the game. She retired the side in order in both the sixth and seventh innings and recorded outs against the final nine batters she faced.
Nationally, Guest has thrown the 16th-most innings pitched in the NCAA, the second most by a freshman pitcher.
VERSATILE EMMA
Emma Bramson has played a total of four positions this season and a total of six in her three years at UNM.
Bramson has started eight games as the designated player, four games at third, three games in right and the last two games at first. Last season, the Valencia, California native started 39 games at third and five games at second, and as a freshman started 25 at third and 21 games at shortstop.
KEY CONTRIBUTOR
Keyannah Chavez leads the team in batting average (.429), slugging percentage (.643), on-base percentage (.489), hits (18), sacrifice bunts (four), triples (two) and total bases (27), is tied for the team high in runs scored (eight), is second in home runs (one) and tied for second in walks (four). She is also 7-14 (.500) as the leadoff in an inning, 13-20 (.650) in successfully advancing runners and 3-8 with runners in scoring position. Three of her five RBI on the season have come with two outs.
The sophomore also leads with six multiple-hit games, with four games of two hits and two games of three hits, and currently has a two game streak of reaching base.
Chavez had a sensational second week of the season, leading the Lobos with nine hits, two doubles, two triples, 15 total bases, and had a .833 slugging percentage and a .550 on-base percentage. Chavez closed the ACU Tournament going a combined 4-4 on Sunday with a double, a triple, a walk and one RBI, finishing with a 1.750 slugging percentage. Her 3-3 performance against Marist was her second three-hit outing of the season and her team-high fifth multi-hit game of the season.
ABOUT TEXAS TECH
Texas Tech enters the game 12-3 on the season and has won its last five, all at the UNT Invite.
Three Red Raiders share a team high with 14 hits (Riley Love, Arriana Villa, Kailey Wyckoff) with Love leading with a .756 slugging percentage, 15 RBI and 31 total bases. Of her 14 hits, the infielder has hit six doubles, a triple and three home runs.
Eight different players have at least one stolen base and as a team, TTU is 17-21 in stolen base attempts. Logan Hallerman is 6-6, Abbie Orrick is 3-3 and Wyckoff is 2-2.
TTU has used six pitches thus far, with Maddie Kuehl making the most appearances (nine) and starts (five), throwing three complete games. The RHP has thrown a team-high 35.1 innings, striking out 27 to 13 walks, and allowing 11 runs (nine earned) on 24 hits. Maddy Wright has appeared in seven games with four starts, throwing 26.1 innings with two complete games, striking out 20 to eight walks.
Historically, UNM is 28-29 against Texas Tech with the last win on March 2, 2018, a 14-13 win in 10 innings.