Lobos Fall to Texas State Sunday
SAN MARCOS, Texas— Jessica DeLeon drove in both of New Mexico’s runs in Sunday’s final game of the Bobcat Tournament against Texas State, bookending the game with a run in the first and one in the seventh in the 6-2 final.
DeLeon was one of two Lobos to record multiple hits, joined by DeNae Vasquez-Dickson’s two hits, who went 2-3 and also reached on a hit-by-pitch. In total, UNM had seven hits and left a total of nine runners on.
Both teams scored in the opening inning with the Lobos scoring a run on a DeLeon hit down the left-field line that scored Mya Pacheco from second, after Pacheco reached on a fielder’s choice and Allie Williams walked. Texas State scored two in the bottom half on two hits to the outfield before starter McKenna Guest recorded the final out on a strikeout.
The Lobos had the tying run on second in the second inning after Ashley Archuleta led off with an infield single and Vasquez-Dickson reached on a bunt, beating out the throw to first, however, a strikeout left both runners on.
In the home half, the Bobcats added a run before Lexi Atcitty entered in relief and induced two groundouts to leave two Bobcats in scoring position. Sydney Carithers threw out a runner trying to steal second for the third out of the third inning for her third runner caught stealing of the season, with Texas State capitalizing on two errors in the bottom of the fourth to score three runs, all unearned.
After the Lobos were unable to cut into the deficit in the top of the fifth with Hayden Luderer reaching on a leadoff infield single, Natalie Fritz entered to start the bottom of the fifth and proceeded to retire the first five batters she faced, ultimately retiring six of the seven batters she faced and allowing a two-out single in the sixth.
Trailing 6-1 in the top of the seventh, the Lobos loaded the bases with Luderer reaching on an error and Vasquez-Dickson reaching on a bunt. Pacheco grounded out to first, but moved both runners into scoring position on the play, with Williams loading the bases on a two-out, four-pitch walk. Down to the last strike, DeLeon extended the game on a hit to left field to bring in Luderer before the game ended on a popup to second.
UNM used three pitchers in the circle, with Guest going 1.1 innings, Atcitty throwing 2.2 innings and Fritz throwing the final 2.0 innings. Between the three, the Lobos struck out five batters and walked two, and of the six runs, only three were earned.
Up next: The Lobos (4-7-1) return to Texas for the Tarleton Invitational Feb. 21-23.