Lobos Conclude Opening Weekend in Tie with St. John's

HOUSTON, Texas – The Lobos concluded opening weekend with a 2-2 tie against St. John’s on Sunday, with the game ending in the eighth inning due to a travel cut-off time.

It marked the first tie for the Lobos since a 1-1 final against UConn on March 15, 2003 and the fourth tie in program history.

The defense rose to the occasion with SJU runners reaching scoring position in six of the innings with runners reaching third in three innings including in both the sixth and seventh innings, ultimately leaving 11 Johnnies stranded in the game.

After the Lobos were retired in order to start the game, a leadoff throwing error in the bottom of the inning allowed the Johnnies runner to take second, but the Lobos got out of the inning on a grounder back to Natalie Frtiz in the circle, a strikeout and a grounder to Ashley Archuleta.

Jessica DeLeon got the second started on a leadoff single up the middle with Keyannah Chavez laying down a sac bunt, but reaching on a throwing error that moved both Lobos into scoring position. Sydney Carithers gave the Lobos the early lead, dropping a bunt with the Johnnies trying to get pinch runner Hayden Luderer at home, who was safe. Heads up baserunning produced a second run on the play as with second uncovered, Carithers stole second and as SJU attempted to throw her out, Chavez came around to score for a 2-0 Lobo lead.

Following a leadoff walk that prompted a pitching change with McKenna Guest entering in place of Fritz in the bottom of the third, a sac bunt moved the runner. A single up the middle led to a throw from DeNae Vasquez-Dickson to Carithers at home that resulted in the second out, a pivotal play in the game as on the next at-bat, St. John’s hit a home run. SJU had two more runners reach in the inning on a double and a walk before a flyout to Chavez in left ended the inning with two runners left on.

The Lobos had two runners in scoring position in the fourth and fifth innings after Miracle McKenzie was hit by a pitch and reached second before the fourth inning came to an end and Archuleta hit a two-out double before a flyout to center ended the fifth. Carithers walked with two outs in the sixth for another Lobo baserunner but was left standing on first.

A leadoff double by St. John’s in the bottom of the sixth and sac bunt put pressure on the Lobos, but a popup to third and flyout to left kept the go ahead run on third.

Allie Williams reached on a two-out single up the middle before a grounder to second ended the inning, and St. John’s put two runners on in the bottom half on a walk, a single down the left-field line and a flyout to center that allowed both runners to advance. However, the defense again got out of the inning on a grounder to second to send the game to extra innings.

With Archuleta placed on second to start the eighth, Katherine Brunner reached on a pinch-hit single through the left side with Archuleta moving to third when the game was called on account of time.

UNM used three arms in the game with Fritz going 2.0 scoreless innings, striking out one. Guest threw 1.0 inning of relief and was responsible for both runs allowed, with Marina Tinari going the final 4.0 innings and struck out one while not allowing a run.

The Lobos close the weekend 3-3-1 and will return to The Lone Star State up next with the Bobcat Tournament at Texas State Feb. 14-16.