Yeatts' Homers in Loss to Red Raiders
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.— Six different Lobos recorded a hit leading to two runs in the home opener Wednesday against Texas Tech, but New Mexico fell 9-2 to the Red Raiders.
Texas Tech opened the game with four runs on four hits in the top of the first and added a run in the top of the second before Chloe Yeatts’ solo home run on the seventh pitch of her at-bat in the home half of the inning put the Lobos on the board. The solo shot was the third of the year and eighth of the sophomore’s career.
The Red Raiders added a run in both the third and fourth innings, with the Lobos leaving a runner on first and third in the innings, respectively, before adding a second run in the bottom of the fifth behind three hits and a two-out rally.
DeNae Vasquez-Dickson reached on an infield single, beating out the throw to first, to turn the lineup over. Keyannah Chavez followed suit with a single to right field and with a 1-2 count, Rachael Hathoot scored Vasquez-Dickson on a shallow fly ball to left center before the inning came to an end with two runners left on.
TTU added two more runs in the top of the sixth for the final runs of the game, although the Lobos had runners reach in the final two innings, including a runner on third in the seventh. Jewels Hanawahine started off the seventh with her first collegiate hit in a pinch hit appearance on a single that snuck through the left side of the infield and Vasquez-Dickson worked a walk following a full count. A fielder’s choice put runners on the corners with one out, however, a double play ended the opportunity and the game.
McKenna Guest got the start in the circle, facing three baters before being replaced by Taylor Snow. Snow retired the first two Red Raiders she faced without the ball leaving the infield before the Red Raiders got to her with a home run, walk and stolen base before the inning came to an end on a popup to Hathoot at short.
Snow pitched 3.0 innings of relief, allowing four runs (three earned) on five hits and walked two on 18 batters faced. Brooke Umali made her third appearance of the season, also going 3.0 innings and allowed two runs on two hits and walked one, facing 11 TTU hitters. Emily Brouse closed with the final 1.0 inning and promptly retired the side in order on eight pitches- two flyouts to left and a strikeout.
UNM returns to the road to Arizona and the Purple Classic for four games starting on Friday.