ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.— Miracle McKenzie gave the Lobos the early lead with a two-run home run in the bottom of the first inning against San Diego State Sunday, but the Aztecs scored eight unanswered runs in the 10-3 final.
Starter McKenna Guest worked around a two-out walk in the top of the first, recording two strikeouts in the inning to keep the Aztecs off of the board.
A leadoff single by Briana Williams was wiped off the board when it was deemed the freshman stepped out of the box to turn into a strikeout with DeNae Vasquez-Dickson the first Lobo to reach on a walk following a full count. McKenzie turned on the 2-2 pitch after fouling off three straight pitches for the two-run home run to the bleachers in left field for her second home run of the series and 13th of the season. Additionally, it marks consecutive Mountain West series with multiple home runs.
The sophomore’s 13 home runs thus far are tied for the fifth most in a single season in program history.
Gabrielle Briones kept the inning going with a single to left and with two outs, Jessica DeLeon hit it just inside the first base line with Briones moving around to third on the play. A strikeout left runners on the corners.
The Aztecs cut the lead in half in the top of the third following a leadoff single, a sac bunt that moved the runner to second and a two-out single through the right side of the infield that plated a run before a foul out to McKenzie ended the inning.
SDSU took the lead in the top of the fourth behind a solo home run, triple and groundout to first with McKenzie diving to make the grab and crawling to first to tag the base for the out.
DeLeon drew a one-out walk in the bottom of the inning to put a runner on, where the Lobo catcher was left standing, with the Aztecs extending their lead in the fifth on a two-out solo home run to center and added four runs on four hits in the sixth.
The Lobos got a run back in the bottom of the sixth as McKenzie led off with a walk and DeLeon drew a two-out walk. With Allie Williams on second and DeLeon on first, Jewels Hanawahine hit a blooper that fell into right field to bring around A. Williams from second, but DeLeon was thrown out at the plate to end the inning.
SDSU scored two final runs in the seventh inning with the Lobos going down in order in the home half to end the game.
Four Lobos made an appearance in the circle with Guest going 3.1 innings in the loss and striking out two while allowing three runs on four hits. Arianna Capek entered in relief and threw 1.2 innings, allowing one run on two hits. Caitlin Benningfield went 0.2 innings before Caprice Barela threw the final 1.1 inning, allowing two runs on two hits.
UNM heads on the road to face Boise State in a three-game series starting Thursday.