ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.— Trailing by four heading into the bottom of the seventh, the Lobos rallied to tie the game and eventually walked it off 8-7 in the bottom of the eighth in the opener of the UNM Invitational against UTEP Friday afternoon.
The Lobos split on the day, dropping their second game against Tarleton State 6-3.
Allie Williams led the Lobos with three hits on the day, all doubles, for a team-high three RBI and an .857 slugging percentage. Miracle McKenzie hit her fourth home run of the season in the seventh against UTEP and Jessica DeLeon delivered the game-winning hit in the bottom of the eighth, also finishing the day with two RBI, one of three Lobos with two RBI.
In the circle, McKenna Guest picked up the win after throwing 1.2 in relief while Caprice Barela struck out three Tarleton State batters in game two, getting the start and going 3.2 innings.
GAME 1: UTEP
Both teams plated a run in the first inning with UNM using a two-out rally behind a Briana Williams infield single and stolen base. DeLeon hit the 2-2 pitch through a gap in the right side of the infield to bring around B. Williams to tie the game at one.
After starting pitcher Caitlin Benningfield worked around a leadoff single to leave a Miner on, the Lobos had their own leadoff batter reach when Gabrielle Briones hit a double to center following a full count. A MiaLani Ocampo sac bunt moved the Lobo over to third and an error by the left fielder, who was unable to make the catch, allowed Briones to score for the Lobo lead.
The score held until the fourth as the top of the third came to an end when a Miner runner left early from first and Benningfield retired the side in order in the fourth with the Lobos adding to their lead in the fourth. An Ocampo single to left field followed by a walk by Estrella Rowe and a single to right field from Hayden Luderer loaded the bases to turn over the Lobo lineup and DeNae Vasquez-Dickson brought in the third Lobo run on a sac fly to left field. The Lobos loaded the bases again on a four-pitch B. Williams walk but a lineout to right left them loaded.
A fielding error to start the top of the sixth led to the Miners capitalizing with a single to center putting two runners on and a groundout to second advancing both runners into scoring position. A foul out to A. Williams in right plated a run with a double to center scoring another run that made it a one-run game.
UTEP scored four runs on four hits in the top of the seventh on a bases-clearing double and a single to center field for the 7-3 lead, to which the Lobos answered in the home half. A. Williams led off with a double to right field to get the comeback started with McKenzie cutting the deficit in half on a one-out, two-run home run to right. Briones kept it going with an infield single and while a flyout to center left the Lobos down to one out, Rowe made it a one-run game on a double to left center to score Briones from first and Luderer hit a triple to right field on a 3-2 count to tie the game. A strikeout ended the inning with the go-ahead run on third, sending the game to extra innings.
With international tie breaker in effect, each team started the eighth with a runner on second, with each team laying down a sac bunt to move the runner over. A walk in the top of the eighth put runners on the corners but a strikeout followed by the runner on first called for leaving early following a challenge by UNM Head Coach Nicole Orgeron kept the Miners off the board.
In the home half, Vasquez-Dickson was moved to third on a sac bunt by B. Williams, and with two outs, DeLeon ended the game on a single that dropped in shallow center to score Vasquez-Dickson.
DeLeon and McKenzie led the Lobos with two RBI apiece, while Benningfield went 6.1 innings in the circle before Guest threw the 1.2 innings.
GAME 2: Tarleton State
The Lobos took an early lead against the Texans after B. Williams reached on a fielder’s choice and stole second for her second stolen base of the day with A. Williams hitting a double to right field to drive her in.
UNM’s lead held until the top of the fourth when a dropped fly ball allowed two runs to score to give the visitors the 2-1 lead, and TSU added two more runs on consecutive singles.
The Loos got a run back in the bottom of the fifth after pinch hitter Mya Pacheco drew a out-walk with B. Williams reentering to run. A double to the gap in left center by A. Williams scored B. Williams from first with the Lobos unable to bring in A. Williams from scoring position.
Tarleton State scored two final runs in the top of the seventh on back-to-back singles to start the inning, a sac bunt that moved both into scoring position, and a single through the right side followed by a double down the left field line.
A one-out bunt by B. Williams that led to the Texan pitcher throwing the ball away that allowed the Lobo freshman to advance all the way to third followed by a sac fly by A. Williams provided the final run of the game. A. Williams accounted for all three UNM RBI in the game.
Three Lobos made an appearance in the circle with Barela taking the loss after going 3.2 innings with three strikeouts, one walk and four runs scored (none were earned). Marina Tinari threw 2.2 innings of relief and allowed no walks while striking out two and Arianna Capek threw 0.2 innings, allowing one hit on four batters faced.
UNM faces Houston Christian at 3 p.m. and Tarleton State at 5:30 p.m. on the second day of the UNM Invitational Saturday.