YOUNGSVILLE, La.— The Lobos lost a pair of 4-3 games against Louisiana Tech and No. 25 Southeastern Louisiana on the first day of the Mardi Gras Mambo Friday.
UNM was led by freshman Briana Williams, who finished with three hits, including a double, hit .600 and scored a team-high two runs between both games.
In the circle, McKenna Guest and Marina Tinari got the starts against LA Tech and SLU, respectively, with Guest throwing her third complete game of the season and Tinari going 6.1 innings before Arianna Capek entered in relief.
GAME 1: LOUISIANA TECH
As the designated visitors, Williams led of with a walk and advanced quickly around the bases on a passed ball and a sac bunt by DeNae Vasquez-Dickson. Allie Williams hit a sac fly to center field with B. Williams tagging on the play for the 1-0 Lobo lead.
The Bulldogs matched that with their leadoff walk turning into a run as a sac bunt and single to center field tied the game at one before Guest retired the next two batters on strikeouts.
The trend of leadoff batters reaching with free bases continued as Miracle McKenzie led off the second reaching on a hit-by-pitch with Hayden Luderer hitting a one-out single to center and Jewels Hanawahine hitting a single through the left side to load the bases. In the ninth spot of the lineup, Gabrielle Briones hit a sac fly to left that allowed McKenzie to score to give UNM back the lead. The Lobos added to the lead after B. Williams put the ball in play and the LA Tech third baseman threw the ball away with B. Williams taking second and Luderer scoring on the play. Vasquez-Dickson attempted to reach on a bunt, but was thrown out at first to leave two runners in scoring position.
LA Tech had its first three batters reach on a walk, hit-by-pitch and bunt in front of home plate with catcher Jessica DeLeon unable to make a play at a base. While the Lobos were able to record the first out on a foul out to Vasquez-Dickson in left, the Bulldog on third was able to tag on the play for the run. UNM got out of the inning on a groundout to Guest in the circle with the bases left loaded and the Lobos in the lead.
A scoreless third in which both teams had a runner reach on a single was followed by a scoreless fourth, with an opportunity for the Lobos to extend their lead in the fifth. B. Williams led off the inning with a double and Vasquez-Dickson followed with a walk and moved to second on a wild pitch. With one out, DeLeon flied out to left field with both runners tagging. While B. Williams scored, Vasquez-Dickson was thrown out at third for the final out to keep the run off the board.
Guest retired the side in order in the bottom of the fifth with the Lobos going down in order in the top of the sixth. LA Tech tied the game in the home half of the sixth on a double and single up the middle, with the Lobos preventing any further runs on a sac bunt and two ground balls to Briones at shortstop.
Tied in the seventh inning, B. Williams reached on a two-out single to left but was left stranded on a strikeout. In the bottom of the inning, a grounder to Estrella Rowe at third provided the first out before a home run ended the game with the Bulldogs walking off.
- Williams led the Lobos with two hits, while in the circle, Guest went the distance with two strikeouts.
GAME 2: SOUTHEASTERN LOUISIANA
Much like the first game, the Lobos had runners reach in the first inning as B. Williams singled up the middle and Vasquez-Dickson followed with a single to center to put a runner in scoring position. However, two strikeouts and a fly ball to center ended the opportunity.
The Lady Lions scored first on a leadoff single to left and stolen base with the runner moving to third on a grounder to Tinari in the circle. Tinari recorded the second out on a swinging strikeout before a single to center scored the run. Following another stolen base, Tinari ended the inning on her second swinging strikeout.
Double plays eliminated chances for the Lobos in the second and fourth innings, with SLU adding to its lead with a run in the second and a run in the fifth. However, it took one inning for UNM to get back in the game, scoring three runs in the top of the sixth.
Briones reached on a hit-by-pitch to start the inning and B. Williams walked on four pitches before Vasquez-Dickson reached on an infield single in which a throwing error to first allowed Briones and B. Williams to score and Vasquez-Dickson to move all the way to third on the play. A fielder’s choice on DeLeon’s at-bat with Vasquez-Dickson sliding in safely at the plate tied the game, with the Lobos applying more pressure on the base paths as Georgia Heathcock reached on a fielder’s choice with DeLeon out at second, but Heathcock stealing second as the base went uncovered.
A sacrifice bunt by Luderer moved Heathcock to third, but a fly ball to right left the Lobo stranded.
SLU regained the lead in the bottom of the inning as Capek gave up a leadoff walk with the runner moving to second on a grounder back to the circle and a single to left field brought the run in.
After the first two Lobos were unable to get on base in the top of the seventh, Briones beat out the throw at first for the infield single and B. Williams was hit by a pitch to put the tying run on second. A strikeout ended the game in the 4-3 final.
Vasquez-Dickson led with two hits with B. Williams reaching base on a walk and a hit-by-pitch. Tinari threw 5.0 innings, striking out two, with Capek throwing 1.0 inning and allowed her first run this season.
The loss to SLU marked the fourth one-run loss for the Lobos this season.
UNM faces Northwestern State and Nicholls State Saturday at the Mardi Gras Mambo at 2 p.m. MT and 4 p.m. CT.