Fifth Inning the Difference as Lobos Even Series with Broncos
BOISE, Idaho— The Lobos jumped out to a two-run lead against the Broncos with a run in the first two innings and added two runs in the fifth in the 4-3 win to even the series with Boise State on Saturday.
Elizabeth Baylor drove in the first run as part of her 2-3 performance at the plate and Chloe Yeatts hit her eighth home run of the season to give UNM the early edge, and although BSU tied the game in the bottom of the second, had an answer in the top of the fifth which proved to be the difference.
Saturday’s win snapped a seven-game losing streak to the Broncos with the last win April 25, 2021 and was the first win in Boise since April 30, 2016. In addition, the Lobos have now won four of their last five games.
UNM opened the scoring in the top of the first behind a double from DeNae Vasquez-Dickson, with the freshman stealing third on the next at-bat. With two outs and a 2-2 count, Baylor brought her in on a single up the middle for the early run.
Lobo starter McKenna Guest worked around a one-out hit-by-pitch with the Lobos doubling their lead in the second on a two-out solo home run to right center by Yeatts, the third different Lobo to hit a home run in the series.
The Broncos, however, answered with two runs on three hits to tie the game up in the home half of the inning before the Lobos got out of a bases-loaded jam on a strikeout from Amber Linton and a grounder to Emma Bramson.
Following a scoreless third and fourth inning in which the Lobos left bases loaded and the Broncos left two on in the fourth, the top of the Lobo lineup came through to break the tie in the fifth.
Rachael Hathoot led off with a single up the middle followed by Keyannah Chavez laying down a bunt with the pitcher committing a throwing error that allowed Hathoot to advance to third to put runners on the corners. Baylor drew a four-pitch walk to load the bases and Ashley Archuleta broke the tie on a sacrifice fly to foul territory in left as Hathoot tagged and slid safely into home. On the play, both Chavez and Baylor advanced a base on the throw home and with two outs, Bramson added to the lead, benefitting from a throwing error by the third baseman that allowed the Lobo to reach safely and Chavez to score for the 4-2 lead.
Much like the second inning, BSU answered with a run of its own in their plate appearance in the inning after its first two batters reached and a walk loaded the bases with one out. A fielder’s choice plated the lone run with the out being made at second and the Bronco just beating out the throw to first to evade the inning-ending double play to put runners on the corners. A popup to Hathoot at short provided the third out and kept the Lobos in front.
Inning-ending double plays ended both teams’ chances in the sixth with Hathoot fielding a grounder, stepping on second and throwing to first for the Lobos, and both teams went down in order in the seventh to finish the Lobo win.
With the win, the Lobos are now 8-5 in one-run games and 11-0 when leading after the sixth inning.
UNM finished with seven hits in the game behind Baylor’s two and five different Lobos with one including the top three hitters in the Lobo lineup of Hathoot, Vasquez-Dickson and Chavez. Archuleta, Yeatts and Baylor all contributed one RBI.
Linton earned the win following 5.2 innings of relief, allowing one run on six hits with two strikeouts.
The final game of the series is set for Sunday at 12 p.m. MT.