SAN JOSE, Calif.— The Lobos scored eight runs in the second inning of Saturday’s game at San José State with McKenna Guest throwing a complete game in the 8-0 run-rule victory to even the series.
UNM earned its 10th conference win, the first time since 2015 that UNM has reached double-digit conference wins. In addition, it was the fourth shutout by UNM this season and the second by Guest, and the first shutout against the Spartans since an 8-0 six-inning win in 2023.
Miracle McKenzie hit her 16th home run of the season, a three-run home run over the wall in left field, finishing 2-3 at the plate. The Lobos recorded 14 hits in the game, with Gabrielle Briones going 4-4, Melanie Macias going 3-3 and McKenzie and Jessica DeLeon going 2-3.
DeNae Vasquez-Dickson and Briones accounted for two RBI and DeLeon added one RBI to go with McKenzie’s three. For McKenzie, it was her fifth game with three RBI and the 12th game with multiple RBI this season.
In the circle, Guest threw her seventh complete game, striking out six, allowed two hits and a walk on 18 batters faced. Overall, it was Guest’s 25th complete game of her career and the 21st time with five or more strikeouts and the fifth time this season. It was also her seventh shutout as a Lobo.
After Guest retired the side in order in the bottom of the first, which included two strikeouts, the Lobos rattled off eight runs on eight hits with the Lobos sending 14 batters to the plate in the inning. All eight runs came with two outs and marked the 16th game and 20th time this season scoring four or more runs in an inning.
McKenzie got the inning started with a single to center with Macias adding a single to right center. A fielder’s choice led to the first out at third, but Marina Tinari loaded the bases on an infield single. After a strikeout for the second out, Vasquez-Dickson put the Lobos on the board with a single that got past the diving third baseman with Macias and Luderer scoring and Tinari taking third on the play. Vasquez-Dickson stole second with Briones driving it back up the middle to score both runners.
Allie Williams reached on a fielding error to extend the inning, DeLeon added to the lead with a single, and after a wild pitch moved both runners into scoring position, McKenzie cleared the bases with a home run. With the home run, McKenzie moves into fourth in home runs in a single season in program history.
SJSU had its first hit on a two-out single in the bottom of the second, however, a bunt back to Guest ended the inning.
The Lobos put two runners on in the top of the third on a Vasquez-Dickson single through the left side and an infield single by Briones with both left stranded on a flyout to center.
UNM’s defense retired the side in order in the third with Macias hitting her second double of the season off the wall in center in the fourth, where she was left stranded.
Guest added two more strikeouts in the bottom of the fourth with the Spartans getting their second and final hit of the game on a two-out single, and added two final strikeouts in the fifth inning with the final out a flyout to Williams in right.
The Lobos close the series with the Spartans on Sunday at 12 p.m. PT/ 1 p.m. MT on the Mountain West Network.