Lobo Comeback Falls Short Against Broncos
BOISE, Idaho—The Lobos rallied to take a 2-1 lead on back-to-back home runs in the fifth and again to tie the game at four in the seventh, but a home run to start the bottom of the seventh resulted in a 5-4 loss to Boise State Friday night.
Elizabeth Baylor and Ashley Archuleta hit home runs to start the fifth, the first for Baylor and the second for Archuleta and the third time this season hitting consecutive home runs in a game. Archuleta was involved in the last time that it happened, in last Friday’s game against Utah State.
Archuleta and Baylor led the Lobos at the plate with two hits apiece, with Chloe Yeatts responsible for the fifth hit of the contest.
Boise State was the first to get on the board in the bottom of the second, taking advantage of a Lobo fielding error that allowed two runners to get in scoring position. The Lobos got the next two Broncos out before a single down the third base line that scored a run before a throw from Keyannah Chavez to Sydney Carithers got the runner out for the third out.
The Lobos left two runners on in the fourth on consecutive walks by DeNae Vasquez-Dickson and Chavez, with the Broncos also leaving two on base with runners reaching on walks.
UNM had its first hit in the fifth on a leadoff home run by Baylor, the first career home run for the sophomore, with Archuleta following it up with a home run to center on the 1-2 pitch to put UNM in front.
The Broncos answered with two runs in the bottom of the inning to retake the lead with a liner to Rachael Hathoot and the Lobo shortstop stepping on second for the double play with bases loaded ending the inning.
BSU extended its lead to 4-2 at the bottom of the sixth, setting up a Lobo rally speared by Baylor and Archuleta in the seventh. Baylor led off the inning with an infield single, beating out the throw to first, with Archuleta hitting the 3-2 pitch following two foul balls down the right field line for a double as Baylor moved to third. Yeatts hit a ball towards left field with the shortstop unable to make the catch to score Baylor, with Carithers reaching on a fielder’s choice in which Archuleta scored to tie the game.
A Boise State home run on the 2-1 pitch to start the bottom of the inning thwarted the comeback for the final score.
Amber Linton got the start, going 4.1 innings with two strikeouts and allowing three runs on five hits, before making way for Taylor Snow, who went 1.2 innings and allowed two runs (one earned) on three hits and struck out one.
Game two is set for Saturday at 2 p.m. MT.