MOBILE, Ala.— Caitlin Benningfield threw 7.2 innings with a season-high 13 strikeouts and Miracle McKenzie hit two home runs as the Lobos closed the Jaguar Classic with a 4-3 extra-inning win over Samford Sunday morning.
Of note, her 13 strikeouts were the second most by a Lobo freshman pitcher since 2013 when Lauren Soles struck out 14.
Both teams plated a run in the first inning, which held until the eighth inning, as McKenzie hit a two-out solo home run following a 3-2 count. Benningfield struck out the first two Bulldogs in the bottom of the first before Samford strung together a single to right, a stolen base and a double to right to tie the game at one. A fielding error extended the inning with Benningfield recording her third strikeout, all swinging, to get out of the inning.
The Bulldogs again put runners on in the second with the first two reaching on singles and both runners advancing into scoring position on a throwing error, but again, Benningfield delivered with three consecutive swinging strikeouts to maintain the tie.
Benningfield retired 11 consecutive Bulldogs between the second and fifth innings, which included eight strikeouts, before Samford reached on a single to left center with two outs in the fifth.
McKenzie drew a two-out walk in the sixth, her second of the game, with the Lobos unable to move her, and in the bottom of the sixth, the Bulldogs had a runner reach with the inning coming to an end on a caught stealing with Mya Pacheco applying the tag on the throw from Jessica DeLeon at second.
Samford had a chance to win in the bottom of the seventh after a runner reached on a fielding error with two outs and advanced to second on a wild pitch, but Benningfield sent the game to extras with a strikeout.
It took one at-bat for the Lobos to take the lead as Estrella Rowe hit her second home run of the season to start the top of the eighth, and after Allie Williams reached on an infield single to extend her on-base streak to 15 games, McKenzie added crucial some insurance runs on her second home run of the game to make it 4-1 UNM. Additionally, it was McKenzie’s second game with two home runs this season, and her eighth home run of the season.
Of note, McKenzie’s home run came with two outs in the inning with three of the four runs UNM scored in the game coming with two outs.
Samford had its leadoff batter reach on a single to the outfield to start the bottom of the eighth with Benningfield recording the first out on a grounder back to the circle. However, Samford made it a one-run game on the next at-bat with a two-run home run. The Lobos recorded the second out on a grounder to Gabrielle Briones at short before the Bulldogs had their next two hitters reach to put two runners in scoring position.
McKenna Guest entered in relief and secured the win with a grounder back to the circle with Guest making the play at first for her first save of the season.
Benningfield threw 122 pitches with 85 going for strikes in the win with the Lobos earning their second extra-inning win on the year. It was also the second straight game that the Lobos have hit three home runs in a game and the sixth game with multiple home runs. UNM is 6-0 when hitting multiple home runs in a game.
UNM heads home and won’t leave the state of New Mexico for its next four games, set to face New Mexico State on the road on Tuesday before opening conference at home against Grand Canyon.