SAN JOSE, Calif.— UNM scored the first run of Sunday’s series finale at San José State behind a sacrifice fly from Hayden Luderer, but the Spartans answered with three runs in the bottom of the inning and added a run in the fifth for the 4-1 final.
Five Lobos registered a hit with Allie Williams recording her 16th double of the season, tied for the fourth most in a single-season in program history, to set up the Lobo run.
Following a scoreless first inning, Melanie Macias singled to right field for UNM’s first hit of the game to start the second with Williams hitting a double down the left field line to put two runners in scoring position with one out. Luderer drove the 1-0 pitch to right field, allowing both runners to tag. A strikeout ended the inning with Williams left on third.
The Spartans scored three runs behind a double down the right field line, with the Lobos unsuccessfully challenging a tag at second on the play, followed by a double to right center that tied the game at one. A walk following a full count and a grounder to second for the second out put two Spartans in scoring position with a triple to left center on a 3-2 count giving SJSU the lead.
UNM had a chance to answer in its next at-bats after Estrella Rowe hit a single to left and DeNae Vasquez-Dickson safely reached on a bunt to the third baseman. However, a strikeout, groundout to third that put both runners in scoring position and a flyout to left that left two more Lobos in scoring position.
The Lobos had a runner reach in the fifth after Rowe was hit by a pitch with one out, with a fielder’s choice with the lead runner out at second and a foul out to second ending the opportunity.
SJSU scored a final run on an inside the park home run after a ball down the right field line ricocheted around the fence.
UNM’s last chance happened in the sixth inning after Miracle McKenzie led off with a single to center, but a flyout to center, fielder’s choice and flyout to right field ended the inning.
McKenna Guest threw her eighth complete game of the season, striking out two.
The Lobos host Utah State for a three-game series starting on Thursday at 6 p.m. MT.