UNM Splits Opening Day with Run-Rule of Islanders in Season Opener
HUNTSVILLE, Texas— UNM scored seven runs between the first two innings with McKenna Guest limiting Texas A&M-Corpus Christi to one hit in the 8-0 season-opening, run-rule victory on Thursday. With the win, head coach Nicole Dickson became the only coach in program history to win their first three season openers, with two coming in run-rule fashion. In addition, it was the first season-opening shutout by the Lobos since 2017 and the first shutout since March 25, 2023.
Two freshmen had pivotal contributions in their first collegiate game with Allie Williams going 3-3 at the plate with two doubles and three RBI, while Ella Dawson pinch hit in the bottom of the fifth and delivered the game-ending run on a single to the outfield for her first collegiate hit and RBI.
DeNae Vasquez-Dickson drove in three runs on a bases-clearing double in the second and Keyannah Chavez opened the scoring for the Lobos in the first on a triple that scored Ashley Archuleta.
In the circle, Guest threw a complete game, allowing a single in the second inning, and finished with three strikeouts for her first shutout as a Lobo. The sophomore retired the side in both the fourth and fifth innings and retired eight consecutive batters between the third and the fifth innings.
The Lobos finished with seven hits in the game, and of those, four went for extra bases. UNM also drew four walks with Archuleta earning two, Jessica DeLeon one and Emma Bramson one. Additionally, five of UNM’s runs came with two outs.
New Mexico put pressure on the Islanders early with Archuleta leading off the home half of the first with a four-pitch walk, with Vasquez-Dickson moving her over on a sac bunt. The Lobos scored their first run of the season on a two-out triple to the gap in right center by Chavez, who fouled off three-straight pitches and faced a full count, to bring around Archuleta. On the next at-bat, Williams drove the 1-2 pitch up the middle to score Chavez for her first collegiate hit and RBI.
After the Lobo defense stranded two Islander runners in the second, the offense put two runners on, on a single to the outfield by Bramson and a hit-by-pitch for Hayden Luderer to turn over the lineup. Archuleta drew another four-pitch walk to load the bases, and following a pitching change, Vasquez-Dickson cleared the bases with a double to left center. Miracle McKenzie reached on a hit-by-pitch with both runners advancing a base on the next at-bat to set up a two-out, two-run double from Williams on the first pitch of her at-bat for the 7-0 lead.
UNM scored five runs on three hits in the inning.
The Lobo defense retired the side in order in the fourth on a popup and grounder to Archuleta at second and Guest’s second strikeout of the game, with the Lobos getting another clean inning in the fifth on a Guest strikeout, a popup to McKenzie and a grounder to Bramson at short.
Williams led off the bottom of the fifth with a double to center, with Sydney Carithers moving pinch runner Ava Castillo over to third on a sac bunt. DeLeon entered to pinch hit and reached on a walk after working a full count, and Dawson ended the game with a single to center field on the first pitch of her at-bat to score Castillo for the run-rule.
GAME 2:
The Lobos were held to two hits in the second game against Sam Houston, but had their chances with six baserunners in the 5-0 defeat.
Marina Tinari reached on a single to center in the third inning for UNM’s first hit of the game, in what was ultimately UNM’s best chance to score, and Williams singled to right field in the sixth inning.
The third inning was the difference in the game as the Lobos loaded the bases in the top half after Bramson led off with a walk with Carithers bunting her over. Tinari singled to center to put runners on the corners and Archuleta walked following an eight-pitch at-bat to load the bases. However, a strikeout and flyout to right ended the opportunity.
In the bottom half of the inning, Sam Houston scored five runs on five hits, reaching on an infield single, a walk and a single to the outfield that plated the first run. Following a stolen base, a single through the right side scored two more runs, and after a single to center that put two runners in scoring position, a sac fly and single up the middle scored the final two runs before Carithers threw out a Bearkat trying to steal second.
SHSU threatened again in the bottom of the fourth, loading the bases with one out with Lexi Atcitty entering in relief. A liner to McKenzie at first and a fielder’s choice thwarted any further damage, keeping the score at 5-0. In her first collegiate appearance, Atcitty threw 2.2 scoreless innings in relief, earning her first strikeout in the sixth and allowed two hits on 11 batters faced.
UNM had two more runners reach in the top of the fifth with Carithers reaching base on a seven-pitch at-bat, working back from 0-2 to draw the walk, and Tinari walking on an 11-pitch at-bat, fouling off five consecutive pitches. A fielder’s choice led to an out at third and a grounder to third ended the inning with two more left on.
Williams reached on a hit in the sixth and DeLeon was the final Lobo to reach on a pinch-hit walk in the seventh before the game ended on a flyout to center.
On the day, Williams led the Lobos with four hits with six different players recording a hit. The freshman was 2-2 with runners on and with runners in scoring position, and 3-3 with two outs.
UP NEXT: The Lobos travel to Houston to begin the Houston Classic, starting with a game at Houston Christian on Friday at 12 p.m. MT and at Houston at 5:30 p.m. MT. The Houston game will be streamed on ESPN+.