ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.— The Lobos scored seven runs in the first two innings of Tuesday’s game against New Mexico State, finishing with 13 hits that included five extra base hits, in the 10-6 win.
Allie Williams went 4-4 at the plate with a career-high three doubles for three RBI, tied for the most doubles in a game by a Lobo and the first to do so since 2017. Williams was one of three Lobos with three RBI, with Melanie Macias hitting her third home run of the season, a three-run home run that gave the Lobos the lead in the first inning, and Jessica DeLeon, who hit a two-run home run in the second inning and added an RBI on a single to the outfield in the sixth inning. The two home runs mark the 12th game with two or more home runs with the Lobos 12-0 in those instances.
The top four of the Lobo lineup accounted for 10 of the 13 hits and eight of the runs.
Caitlin Benningfield went 6.2 innings for the win, striking out five Aggies without allowing a walk, to stand at 104 strikeouts on the season.
The Aggies got on the board first with four runs on three hits in the top of the first with Benningfield entering in relief to get the Lobos out of the inning on a grounder back to the circle and a groundout to Gabrielle Briones at shortstop.
UNM answered with five runs on five hits in its first at-bats with DeNae Vasquez-Dickson starting off the inning with a single through the right side and Briones adding a single to center. Williams drove both runs in on a double to the gap in right center to cut the deficit in half before the first out was recorded. Miracle McKenzie singled to center to put runners on the corners and Macias provided the go-ahead runs on a home run over the wall in center.
All nine Lobos came to the plate in the first inning and was the 15th game and 19th time that UNM has scored more than four runs in an inning.
Benningfield struck out two to keep the Lobos in front with UNM adding two runs with two outs in the bottom of the second. Williams hit her second double of the game, again to right center, before DeLeon hit her third home run of the season to put the Lobos up 7-4.
Following a scoreless third with Benningfield adding two more strikeouts, the Aggies cut the lead to one in the fourth with the Lobos matching that in the home half.
Vasquez-Dickson hit a one-out single up the middle and stole second before Briones reached on a walk. Williams hit her third double to right center that allowed Vasquez-Dickson to score while Briones held at third, and after DeLeon walked, also on a full count, McKenzie drove in Briones on a fielder’s choice to shortstop with the out made at third.
Benningfield retired the side in order in the sixth with the Lobos adding a final run in the bottom of the inning. Vasquez-Dickson led off with a walk on four pitches with Briones hitting the first pitch of her at-bat back up the middle. After Vasquez-Dickson was caught stealing going to third, Williams hit a single to left and DeLeon singled to left center with the Aggie outfielder unable to make the diving catch to bring in Briones.
NMSU had its leadoff batter reach on a single up the middle, but after a final Benningfield strikeout, a double play with Benningfield fielding the grounder back to the circle, throwing to Briones at second who threw it to McKenzie at first to end the game.
With the win, the Lobos improve to 22-23 on the season and resume conference play at San José State on Friday.