YOUNGSVILLE, La.— The Lobos lost their final game of the Mardi Gras Mambo to Sam Houston 6-0 with Ella Dawson leading UNM with two hits.
As the designated visitors, Gabrielle Briones reached base on a dropped popup to the third baseman to put a runner on, but was caught stealing to end the inning. Starter Caitlin Benningfield retired the side in order, striking out the first two batters she faced and retired the third on a grounder to third.
Sam Houston took advantage of a stolen base and throwing error to score its first run in the bottom of the second and added three runs in the third on two singles to start the inning, a sac bunt that resulted in a throwing error that brought in a run. A double steal resulted in the second run and a double to the gap in right center scored the third run, leading to a Lobo pitching change with Marina Tinari entering in relief with one out and a runner on second. Tinari got the Lobos out of the inning, striking out the first batter she faced and a fly ball to left field.
The Lobos had their first runner reach scoring position in the top of the fourth as Briones led off with a single to right center, and with two outs, aggressive base running by Briones put runners on the corners following a Miracle McKenzie single through the left side. However, a popup to first stranded the runners.
Tinari retired the side in order in the fourth, adding another strikeout in the inning, and for the second straight inning, the Lobos had their leadoff batter reach base after Dawson led off the top of the fifth with a single to right center, but the next three batters were unable to move her.
The Bearkats added two runs in the fifth and again, the Lobos had runners on in the sixth as Allie Williams and McKenzie reached on consecutive walks, however, a strikeout left them stranded.
Making her first appearance of the season, Alyssa Hensgen entered in the circle to start the bottom of the sixth, working around a leadoff single and a walk for a scoreless inning.
Dawson led off the top of the seventh with a double to left following a 10-pitch at-bat, with the next two batters popping up and a foul out to third ending the game.
Three times the Lobos had their leadoff batter reach base, but the Lobos were 1-13 with runners on and left a total of seven runners on base.
In the circle, the Lobos recorded five strikeouts with Benningfield accounting for three and Tinari two and allowed just one walk.
The Lobos return to the road for their second trip to Texas, with their first midweek of the season at UTEP on Wednesday and a three-game series with ACU starting Friday.