ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.— A nine-run second inning and three-run fourth inning propelled the Lobos to a 12-1 run-rule win over Fresno State on Sunday to secure the series over the Bulldogs.
The 12 runs were the most scored by a Lobo team against the Bulldogs and Sunday was the first run-rule victory over the Bulldogs in program history. It was also the most runs scored by a Mountain West opponent against Fresno State this season.
Further, the Lobos and Bulldogs have had 13 series as Mountain West members dating back to 2013. The series win marked the second series win against Fresno State in the last three years, and prior to 2024, the Lobos had one series win against Fresno State in 10 attempts with the Lobos winning four games total in that span.
Melanie Macias and Miracle McKenzie each went 3-3 at the plate to lead the Lobos with McKenzie hitting two doubles and a home run for five RBI and Macias hitting two home runs and finished with three RBI. They marked the first two home runs for Macias this season, while it was McKenzie’s 15th of the season, tied for the fourth most in a single season in program history.
McKenzie and Macias hit back-to-back home runs in the fourth inning with Sunday the 11th time this season the Lobos have hit two or more home runs (11-0 in those games) and the seventh game with three home runs.
In the circle, freshman Caitlin Benningfield held the Bulldogs to two hits in her sixth complete game of the season and UNM’s 12th complete game of the season, which matches the total number of complete games thrown last season.
Benningfield retired the side in order to start the game with the Lobos getting their first runner on after DeNae Vasquez-Dickson led off the game with a double to left field. Two strikeouts and a groundout left her stranded, the only runner left on base by the Lobos in the game.
Fresno State had its first hit on a one-out single in the second, but a fielder’s choice with the Lobos getting the out at second and a strikeout ended the top half of the inning.
Much like the first inning, the Lobos had their leadoff batter reach on a double as McKenzie reached on a double to right field. Macias followed with a single to right field as the Bulldog second baseman was unable to find the popup in the sun with the ball dropping and McKenzie sliding in safely at third. Hayden Luderer drove in the first run of the game on a single to center and a dropped flyball to right on Ella Dawson’s at-bat allowed all runners to reach safely to load the bases.
A sac fly to left by Estrella Rowe allowed Macias to tag and score with Vasquez-Dickson drawing a walk following a full count to reload the bases. Gabrielle Briones added to the lead on a single to right that scored Luderer and Allie Williams hit a blooper that fell in right field to score Dawson for the 4-0 Lobo lead.
Following a pitching change, the Bulldogs recorded the second out on a fielder’s choice to shortstop with the force out at home before McKenzie cleared the bases on a double to the gap in left center. Macias provided the final runs of the inning, driving the first pitch of her at-bat to clear center as UNM scored nine runs on seven hits and sent 12 to the plate in the inning.
The nine runs matched the most runs scored by the Lobos in an inning this season with the Lobos also scoring nine runs against South Alabama on March 7.
UNM kept Fresno State off the bases in the third inning with two grounders to Briones at shortstop and a flyout to Williams in right. The Bulldogs broke the shutout in the fourth on a leadoff double with the runner taking third on a wild pitch and a grounder to shortstop scoring the run.
However, the Lobos answered with three runs, all coming with two outs, as Jessica DeLeon singled to right center, McKenzie hit a home run to center and Macias followed with a home run to center for the final runs.
A fielding error to start the top of the fifth was eliminated on a double play on the next at-bat as Rowe caught a liner and threw to McKenzie at first and a grounder to McKenzie provided the final out.
The Lobos host New Mexico State on Tuesday at 5 p.m. before resuming Mountain West play at San José State in a three-game series starting Friday.
Quotables:
"Our team made excellent adjustments game to game. McKenna (Guest) fought Saturday for us to respond and set the tone for today. Leadership from returners got it done in big moments and today, we had freshmen in Melanie (Macias) and Caitlin (Benningfield) step up."- Head Coach Nicole Orgeron