Lobos Drop Series Opener to Aztecs
SAN DIEGO— The Lobos had the tying run on third in the top of the seventh after Emma Bramson singled through the left side, Ashley Archuleta hit an infield single and DeNae Vasquez-Dickson drew a walk following a full count to load the bases with two outs, but a grounder to first ended the game in a 1-0 loss to San Diego State on Friday night.
It was UNM’s second chance to take a lead late after loading the bases in the fifth inning on a leadoff single up the middle by Sydney Carithers, a fielder’s choice to second for the first out, a four-pitch walk for Archuleta and an infield single by Vasquez-Dickson with the Lobo outfielder beating out the throw to first, but a grounder to third thwarted the chance.
The Aztecs scored the lone run of the game in the home half of the inning on a walk following a full count, a fly ball to left with the runner advancing, a walk and a double steal to put two runners in scoring position with two outs. A hit back up the middle scored the runner from third with centerfielder Hayden Luderer throwing a perfect ball to Jessica DeLeon at home, who applied the tag on the second run trying to score for the third out.
Archuleta led with two hits and was one of three Lobos to draw a walk, while Natalie Fritz threw her third complete game of the season, allowing one run on six hits with two strikeouts and five walks.
The Lobos outhit SDSU 7-6 in the game, leaving nine runners on compared to eight for the Aztecs.
UNM had two reach in its first at-bats of the game after Archuleta led off with an infield single and Allie Williams singled to right to put two on, however, a double play prevented a chance to put runs on the board.
Fritz retired the first three Aztecs with three grounders in the infield, and the Lobos again put runners on in the second on a leadoff single through the right side by Miracle McKenzie and a walk by Carithers after working a full count, with both moving into scoring position where they were left stranded.
SDSU put runners in scoring position in the bottom of the second on two singles, a fly out to center with both runners advancing, and a walk, with the Lobos keeping the Aztecs off the board on a fielder’s choice to Carithers at third with the play being made at home and a strikeout from Fritz to leave them loaded.
The Aztecs left two more in scoring position in the bottom of the third with a fly out to Williams in right providing the third out, and a runner on second in the fourth before the stalemate was broken in the fifth.
Game two of the series is set for Saturday at 4 p.m. PT/ 5 p.m. MT.