FORT COLLINS, Colo.—The Lobos dropped the second game of the series at Colorado State by a score of 5-0 on Saturday with the Rams scoring four runs in the bottom of the sixth to pull away.
DeNae Vasquez-Dickson led the Lobos with two of UNM’s five hits, with Briana Williams, Melanie Macias and Jessica DeLeon registering one apiece.
In the circle, McKenna Guest threw a complete game, her fifth of the season, striking out five.
The Lobos had runners in scoring position in each of the first two innings with Vasquez-Dickson hitting a one-out single in the top of the first and Miracle McKenzie moving her over to second on a groundout to third, where the Lobo outfielder was left on base.
In the second, DeLeon drove the 3-2 pitch to the gap in left center for her fourth double of the season. Marina Tinari worked a full count as well, drawing a walk to put the first two Lobo hitters on, with Estrella Rowe laying down a sac bunt to move both into scoring position. However, an infield popup and groundout kept the Lobos off of the board.
The Rams took advantage of a dropped popup in the bottom of the second to score a run, with Guest getting the leadoff Ram out on a strikeout before the error allowed the first Ram to reach base in the game with the runner taking second on the error. Guest recorded the second out of the inning on her second strikeout of the inning and third of the game and almost got the Lobos out of the inning unscathed before a single to right center, CSU’s first hit of the game, allowed the unearned run to score. Guest retired the next Ram on another strikeout to keep the Lobo deficit to a run.
Both teams retired the side in order in the third with the Rams threatening in the bottom of the fourth with a single and hit-by-pitch before consecutive fielder choices ended the inning with two Rams left on.
The Lobos had the tying run in scoring position in the fifth inning with Williams hitting a two-out single to left center and stealing second on the next at-bat, her ninth stolen base of the season, although a flyout thwarted the opportunity.
CSU added four runs in the bottom of the sixth on a walk and two singles that scored a run and put runners on the corners with one out. A stolen base put two in scoring position with a sacrifice fly adding a run and moving the runner from second to third followed by a two-run home run.
A leadoff walk by DeLeon in which the catcher worked back from an 0-2 count began the top of the seventh with a fielder’s choice eliminating the lead runner for the first out. A strikeout left the Lobos with out to work with, with Macias reaching on a single through the left side before a groundout to short ended the game.
The Lobos conclude the series with CSU on Sunday at noon on the Mountain West Network.