Lobos Split Sunday Doubleheader with Broncos
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.— The Lobos scored first in both of Sunday’s games against Boise State, winning the first game against the Broncos 2-1 and dropping the second game 6-3.
Of note, the win snapped BSU’s five-game winning streak, was the second win in the last three games in the series and the first home win for the Lobos in the series since April 25, 2021.
In addition, the Lobos held the Broncos below their season average in batting average (.255), slugging percentage (.436), on-base percentage (.333), runs (seven, 3.5 per game), hits (14, 7.0 per game) and walks (five, 2.5 per game), with BSU entering the series seventh in the NCAA in batting average (.364) second in hits (388, 10.2 per game), third in scoring (8.5 runs per game), 11th in on-base percentage (.453), 12th in slugging percentage (.617) and 13th in walks (152, 4.0 per game).
Ashley Archuleta went a combined 4-6, scoring three runs, while Jessica DeLeon accounted for three RBI and fellow freshman Allie Williams accounted for two RBI on the day.
In the circle, McKenna Guest earned her 13th win of the season with Natalie Fritz picking up her third save of the season.
GAME 1:
After a leadoff hit from the Broncos, Guest struck out the next three with one looking and two swinging to set the tone for the Lobos.
The Lobos were quick to get on the board with Archuleta leading off with a single with DeNae Vasquez-Dickson moving her over on a sac bunt and DeLeon moving her to third on a grounder to first. Williams hit a blooper to center to bring in Archuleta for the 1-0 early lead.
UNM worked around a one-out infield single with Guest recording her fourth strikeout for the second out and a fly ball to Hayden Luderer in center in the second and retired the side in order in the third, ending with a swinging strikeout for Guest, extending its lead in the bottom of the third.
Emma Bramson started the inning with a single to right after fouling off consecutive pitches to turn over the lineup and Archuleta added another single to right to put two runners on. Vasquez-Dickson dropped her second sac bunt in as many plate appearances to move both runners in scoring position, with DeLeon doubling the lead on a sacrifice fly to left with Bramson able to tag.
Both teams left two runners on base in the fourth inning with the Broncos leaving a runner on second in the fifth as a result of another Guest strikeout.
Boise State cut the lead in half on a leadoff home run in the top of the sixth with the tying run reaching second on a two-out double to left center, however, a groundout to Sydney Carithers at third two at-bats later kept the Lobos in front.
UNM had a chance to get the run back in the bottom half of the inning after Miracle McKenzie was hit by a pitch and Luderer and pinch hitter Ella Dawson each drew a walk following a full count to load the bases, but a fly ball to left stranded the runners.
The Broncos put the tying run on in the top of the seventh on a one-out infield single and had the go-ahead run on base following a hit-by-pitch, but Fritz struck out the next two Broncos swinging to close the door and secure the win.
Guest went 5.2 innings, allowing one run on five hits with eight strikeouts to one walk, marking the 11th time this season that Guest has had five or more strikeouts in a game and the seventh game allowing one run or less when pitching 4.0 or more innings. Fritz closed the final 1.1 inning with two strikeouts and one walk, allowing two hits and no runs to earn the save.
At the plate, UNM had five hits with Archuleta responsible for two.
GAME 2:
Getting the start, Brooke Umali retired the side in order, capped by a swinging strikeout on a full count with the offense needing three at-bats to get on the board.
Archuleta led off with a single to center and Vasquez-Dickson adding a single to right field, with both runners advancing a base on a wild pitch. DeLeon drove the 2-2 pitch through the right side to bring in both runners with the Lobos later putting two more runners in scoring position in the inning on a single up the middle by McKenzie and a sac bunt by Luderer before the inning came to an end on a grounder to third.
UNM scored two runs on four hits.
BSU however took advantage of a leadoff single followed by a fielding error with the ball reaching the wall in left center to allow the runner from first to score. UNM was able to minimize the damage after a sac bunt that moved a runner from second to third provided the first out and a liner to short and one to centerfield left the runner standing on third.
UNM had a chance to build on its lead in the bottom of the second on a one-out double down the left field line by Bramson and a single to left field that put runners on the corners, but a fielder’s choice and fly ball to left stranded both runners.
A double and a triple to start the third tied the game at two, and after a strikeout and walk, a sacrifice fly put the Broncos in front. Guest got out of the inning with two swinging strikeouts to leave two Broncos on base.
A one-out walk by McKenzie after an eight-pitch at-bat and single through the left side by pinch hitter Keyannah Chavez put the tying run in scoring position, although a fly ball to left on a 3-2 count stranded two Lobos.
The Broncos extended their lead in the fourth on a three-run home run with the Lobos getting a run back in the home half of the inning after Archuleta reached on a hit-by-pitch, a two-out single by DeLeon and a single to right by Williams that allowed Archuleta to score. A wild pitch allowed both Williams and DeLeon to move into scoring position, but a baserunning miscue on another wild pitch in which DeLeon was thrown out at home thwarted the chance to further cut into the deficit.
UNM’s defense kept the game 6-3 in the fifth with Chavez throwing out a Bronco trying to stretch out a single to left center with a pinpoint throw to Bramson at second to get the out.
The Lobos again put runners on in the fifth with McKenzie leading off with a single to right, Jewels Hanawahine laying down a bunt to move her over followed by a four-pitch walk for Chavez to bring the tying run to the plate. However, an infield fly and liner to third left both on.
Both teams had a runner reach on a one-out single in the sixth with both being left on base with the Broncos leaving two more on in the seventh on two walks. The Lobos were unable to put a runner on in the bottom of the seventh for the 6-3 final.
Archuleta, Vasquez-Dickson and DeLeon each registered two hits at the top of the Lobo lineup with McKenzie adding two hits of her own. As a team, UNM outhit BSU 11-7 with DeLeon recording two RBI for her 10th multiple-hit game and sixth multiple-RBI game of the season.
Umali took the loss in the game, going 2.0 innings before Guest entered in relief for 2.0 innings, adding four strikeouts to one walk but allowed three runs on two hits. Fritz threw the final 3.0 innings, allowing two hits but no runs.
UP NEXT: The Lobos remain at home to host Colorado State April 11-13.