ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.— Saturday belonged to the Lobos as New Mexico defeated San Diego State twice for the series win, taking game one 9-5 and game two 7-4.
Of note, it was the first series win for the Lobos over the Aztecs since 2018 and the nine runs the most scored against the Aztecs since 2014. However, nine runs matches the second-most runs scored in a win, which was done in 2001.
The third innings were the defining inning in both games for UNM as the Lobos used a six-run third inning behind two home runs to take the lead in the first game and a three-run third inning to take the lead in the second game, holding on to the lead for the remainder of both contests.
Additionally, game two was all about answering the Aztecs, as each time SDSU scored in the top half, the Lobos answered to outscore the Aztecs.
On the day, the Lobos hit four home runs with Jasmyn Lloyd hitting a pinch-hit home run in game one for her first career home run, while Miracle McKenzie, Allie Williams and Gabrielle Briones all added to their season totals.
In the circle, Caprice Barela and Arianna Capek picked up the wins with McKenna Guest and Caitlin Benningfield earning the saves.
GAME 1
After starter Benningfield retired the side in order to start the game, the Lobos opened the scoring with two runs without recording a single hit.
Briana Williams started the inning on a walk following a full count, the seventh game in which the Lobos have led off with a walk. After B. Williams stole both second and third during DeNae Vasquez-Dickson’s at-bat, with the Lobo left fielder also walking on a 3-2 count, Vasquez-Dickson stole second and McKenzie loaded the bases on the third full count walk, prompting an early Aztec pitching change.
Two sacrifice flies by Briones and A. Williams, respectively scored B. Williams and Vasquez-Dickson with McKenzie left on second as the inning came to end on another flyout to the outfield.
UNM almost worked around a leadoff single on two swinging strikeouts by Benningfield before a two-out home run to center tied the game at two. SDSU put two more runners on in the inning on a single up the middle and walk with both stranded on a liner to Estrella Rowe at third.
The score held until the bottom of the third when the Lobos used two home runs to score six runs and break the game open.
Vasquez-Dickson led off with a double to the gap in left center with McKenzie reaching on a hit-by-pitch. A sac bunt by Briones led to a throwing error by the Aztec third baseman, bringing around Vasquez-Dickson for the go-ahead run with McKenzie moving to third and Briones to second. A. Williams cleared the bases on a home run to center for her sixth home run of the season, and after a groundout to shortstop for the first out, Melanie Macias reached on a single to right field.
Entering to pinch hit, Lloyd added to the lead with a home run over the wall in center for the two-run home run, the first of her career, as well as her first career hit and RBI.
UNM scored six runs on four hits, the ninth game scoring four or more runs in an inning and the 12th time this season.
The Aztecs chipped into the lead with two runs in the fourth and a run in the fifth with the Lobos keeping SDSU from further narrowing the lead in the sixth on a fielder’s choice to Briones at shortstop that left an Aztec runner on third.
McKenzie added an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth on a one-out solo home run to the bleachers in left for her 12th home run of the season.
Holding a four-run lead going into the seventh inning, Guest got the first out on a flyout to Hayden Luderer in center before an Aztec reached on a single up the middle. However, a groundout back to Guest and a flyout to Vasquez-Dickson in left secured the win.
The Lobos hit three home runs in the game, the sixth time this season hitting three home runs with UNM 8-0 when hitting two or more home runs in a game.
Benningfield went 3.1 innings with three strikeouts and allowed four runs on five hits before Barela took over and threw 2.0 innings. Barela struck out two and allowed one run (unearned) on two hits before Guest closed the final 1.2 innings for the save, allowing two hits but no runs.
At the plate, A. Williams led with a career-high four RBI while Vasquez-Dickson accounted for two of UNM’s seven hits and extended her hit streak to nine games.
GAME 2
SDSU started the scoring on a two-out double to left center that scored a runner from first, but the Lobos responded with two runs of their own in their first at-bats.
Leading off, B. Williams reached on a hit-by-pitch with Vasquez-Dickson moving her over to second on a sac bunt and moved to third on a wild pitch. A grounder to first by McKenzie brought the freshman in to tie the game with A. Williams keeping the inning going on a double to center. Briones walked on a full count with A. Williams taking third on a wild pitch, and a double steal gave UNM the 2-1 lead as Briones broke for second with the Aztec catcher throwing to second. The shortstop cut off the throw as A. Williams was heading home with the Lobo outfielder sliding in safely on the throw back home. The ball got away, allowing Briones to take third and slipped trying to stop herself rounding third, getting thrown out trying to get back to the base for the final out.
Following a scoreless second, the Aztec took the 3-2 lead behind two runs in the top half of the third inning, with again, the Lobos answering with runs of their own in the bottom half of the inning.
Jewels Hanawahine got the inning started on a walk with a fielder’s choice leading to the Aztecs getting the lead runner. B. Williams took second on a wild pitch with Vasquez-Dickson tying the game on a single to left center that brought her in. McKenzie followed with a walk to put two on, and after a strikeout for the second out, a wild pitch put both runners in scoring position. Jessica DeLeon broke the tie on a single up the middle with the Aztecs making a pitching change. A wild pitch allowed McKenzie to score to extend the Lobo lead to 5-3 with the Lobos scoring three runs on two hits in the inning, two of which came with two outs.
Entering in relief to start the fourth, Capek struck out the first five Aztecs she faced, three swinging, before SDSU hit a two-out solo home run to cut the lead to one in the fifth. A triple to left center put the tying run in scoring position, but a popup to Macias at second kept the Lobos in front.
McKenzie led off the home half of the fifth on a single to right with Briones driving the first pitch of her at-bat over the wall in center for the two-run home run and her fourth home run of the season.
A leadoff single in the top of the sixth prompted the Lobos to go to the bullpen with Benningfield entering the circle, with the freshman getting the Lobos out of the inning on a grounder to Briones at shortstop, a grounder to Macias at second and a grounder to Rowe at third to leave an Aztec on third.
Leading 7-4 heading into the seventh, Benningfield retired the side in order on a liner to Luderer in center with the Lobo making a diving grab, and consecutive grounders to Briones at short.
Following game two of Saturday’s game, the Lobos are now 10-0 when leading after the sixth inning.
Briones led the Lobos with two walks and two RBI, with seven different Lobos registering a hit.
In the circle, Guest went 3.0 innings, striking out two and allowing three runs on four hits before Capek entered. The freshman threw 2.0 innings to get the win, striking out five and allowing one run on three hits. Benningfield closed the game with the final 2.0 innings, not allowing a hit on the six batters faced to get the save.
The Lobos close out the series with the Aztecs on Sunday at 12 p.m.