Lobos Open Conference with Win at San José State

SAN JOSE, Calif.— The Lobos opened conference with a hard-fought 6-5 extra-inning win over San José State, with the UNM loading the bases in the top of the eighth before Sydney Carithers provided the game-winning run on a single to second that allowed Ashley Archuleta to score from third.

UNM got out to an early 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning, taking advantage of two Spartan errors as DeNae Vasquez-Dickson reached on an error and stole second to start the Lobos off. Consecutive walks by Keyannah Chavez and Archuleta loaded the bases with one out and Chloe Yeatts hit a sacrifice fly to center deep enough to allow Vasquez-Dickson to tag for the opening run.

Emma Bramson kept it going with a hit to left field that allowed Chavez to score and a hard hit to third from Katherine Brunner brought in Archuleta for the third run of the inning. The Lobos ultimately scored three runs on one hit, while drawing two walks.

SJSU had a runner reach third in the bottom of the first with the Lobos getting out of the inning on a grounder to Rachael Hathoot at short and starter Taylor Snow and the Lobo defense retired the side in order in both the second and third to keep the Lobos in front 3-0 through three.

The Spartans recorded their first two hits of the game in the fourth, but again the Lobo defense evaded any damage with another grounder to Hathoot to get out of the inning.

UNM added to its lead in the top of the fifth with two runs on three hits, spurred by the top of the lineup. Vasquez-Dickson got it started with a single to second followed by a single to right field from Chavez that allowed Vasquez-Dickson to move to third on the play. Facing an 0-2 count, Archuleta hit the ball back up the middle to bring in Vasquez-Dickson with Chavez moving from first to third, setting up Yeatts to record her second sacrifice fly of the game on a ball to left field with Chavez tagging for the 5-0 Lobo lead.

However, the Spartans answered with four runs of their own in the bottom half of the inning behind a bases-clearing double with the Spartan taking third on the throw home, and a sacrifice fly to center to make it a one-run game.

A leadoff triple by SJSU in the bottom of the sixth followed by a sac fly tied the game before relief pitcher McKenna Guest got out of the inning on a grounder to Carithers at third and a strikeout.

The Spartans had the winning run in scoring position in the bottom of the seventh on a fielding error and a sacrifice bunt, but the Lobos sent the game to extras on a grounder to Hathoot.

Archuleta reached on a fielding error by the shortstop with Yeatts bunting her over to start the top of the eighth. Two freshmen stepped up in a pivotal moment with Gabrielle Briones battling back from a 1-2 count to a full count, eventually reaching on a single to right to move Archuleta to third. Hayden Luderer drew a walk after battling from down 0-2 to load the bases and the Lobos continued to battle at the plate as Carithers fouled off four consecutive pitches before putting the ball in play with a hit towards second base and the Spartans unable to get the force at second for the go-ahead run.

Guest got the first out on a strikeout for her second of the game and a popup to second on the next at-bat gave UNM two quick outs. The Spartans had the tying run reach on a walk following a full count, but a flyout to left provided the third out and sealed the win.

UNM outhit SJSU 8-6 with seven Lobos tallying at least one, led by Chavez going 2-3 that included a double. It marked Chavez’s ninth multi-hit game of the season and the fifth consecutive game that she’s reached base. In addition, Hathoot extended her hit streak to eight games and Carithers extended her streak of reaching base to four games.

Yeatts led with two RBI with Archuleta, Bramson and Carithers finishing with one apiece. It was Yeatts’ fourth game this season with multiple RBI, which leads the Lobos.

UNM utilized two pitchers in the game with Snow getting the starting nod and going 4.1 innings that included four scoreless innings and retiring 10 consecutive Spartans. Guest went the remaining 3.2 innings and was the pitcher on record after allowing one hit, one run, one walk and two strikeouts.

Of note, the Lobos are now 4-2 in one-run games this season and 5-0 when scoring at least six runs.

Game two of the series is set for Saturday at 4 p.m. MT on the Mountain West Network.