Lobos Drop Road Contest to Aggies
LAS CRUCES, N.M.— The Lobos brought the tying run to the plate in the top of the seventh after loading the bases on a pinch-hit single up the middle from Ella Dawson, a single to left from Ashley Archuleta and a single up the middle by Jessica DeLeon, but were unable to push across any runs in a 6-2 loss to New Mexico State Tuesday.
UNM took the early lead in the top of the first with Archuleta leading off with a single to left and DeNae Vasquez-Dickson walking to put the first two Lobos on. With two outs, Miracle McKenzie doubled to left field, coming inches from clearing the fence, to score Archuleta and Vasquez-Dickson.
However, NMSU scored three in the bottom of the first on two hits, taking advantage of two walks and two doubles.
UNM had two more reach on walks in the top of the second with Katherine Brunner walking on four pitches and Sydney Carithers walking following a full count, forcing an Aggie pitching change. Following the change, the next two Lobos were retired to end the inning with two left on.
The Aggies added to the deficit with three runs in the bottom of the second on a three-run home run, prompting Las Cruces native Caprice Barela to enter in relief of Natalie Fritz.
UNM again had two runners reach in the third on a leadoff single by Allie Williams and a double to left center from DeLeon to put two in scoring position, but were unable to capitalize on it with both left stranded.
Barela retired the side in order in the third, the fourth and the fifth with three strikeouts, ultimately retiring the first 12 batters she faced before allowing a two-out walk in the bottom of the sixth.
Barela threw 4.1 scoreless innings of relief, striking out three to one walk while not allowing a hit. Fritz took the loss after going 1.2 innings and finishing with a line of six runs on five hits, two walks and two strikeouts.
At the plate, Archuleta and DeLeon led the Lobos with two hits apiece, with the Lobos outhitting the Aggies and leaving nine runners on compared to two for NMSU. Of UNM’s eight hits, three went for extra bases with Vasquez-Dickson, DeLeon and McKenzie recording doubles. In addition, the Lobos had their leadoff batter reach in four innings.
Up next: The Lobos begin MW play with their home opener against San José State on Friday at 5 p.m. MT.