ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.— The Lobos dropped a doubleheader against UNLV on Wednesday, falling in the first game 8-4 before falling in game two, 3-2.
Briana Williams led the Lobos with four hits on the day with three different Lobos accounting for one RBI, including a home run by Hayden Luderer in game one.
GAME 1
The Lobos put two runners on in the bottom of the first following a DeNae Vasquez-Dickson walk on a full count with Miracle McKenzie hitting the first pitch of her at-bat back up the middle. However, a fielder’s choice with UNLV getting the lead runner at third and a lineout to third left two on.
UNLV broke the tie in the top of the second, taking advantage of a leadoff walk and bunt single. Following a fielder’s choice with the Lobos getting the first out at third, a single to center scored the first run. A flyout to Luderer provided the second out, but a walk loaded the bases and a single to center brought in two for the 3-0 Lobo deficit.
The Rebels extended their lead with a run in the third, again with two outs, with a walk loading the bases and a hit-by-pitch scoring a run.
UNM matched it with a run in the home half after Luderer led off the inning with a home run over the right field wall, her second of the season, with Williams reaching base on the next play on a single to right center. However, a double play erased the opportunity to build on the inning with McKenzie left on base in the inning following a hit-by-pitch.
Extra-base hits led to three more Rebel runs scoring in the fourth inning before the Lobos went to the bullpen with Arianna Capek entering in place of starter McKenna Guest. Capek got the Lobos out of the inning with a strikeout following a walk.
UNLV scored a final run in the fifth inning before the Lobos closed the game with the final three runs.
McKenzie got the sixth inning started with a walk with the next two batters retired on a fielder’s choice and a flyout to right. Jessica DeLeon delivered with a double to right center that nearly missed clearing the fence to score Gabrielle Briones from first before a strikeout ended the inning with a runner left in scoring position.
After Capek retired the side in order in the top of the seventh, Luderer singled through the left side and Williams hit an infield single, with both runners later advancing a base on a wild pitch. McKenzie grounded out to the shortstop with Luderer scoring on the play and Briones followed that with a single to right field with Williams scoring on the play and Briones taking third on a fielding error by the right fielder. A groundout to the catcher ended the game.
Guest took the loss in the game, throwing 3.2 innings before Capek threw the final 3.1 innings. Capek didn’t allow a hit in her outing.
GAME 2
UNLV again opened the scoring in game two, using a single to center field to score a run before a double play ended the inning.
The Lobos answered to tie the game in the bottom of the second, one of two ties in the game, with Allie Williams opening the inning with a single to center and advancing to second on a wild pitch. A fielding error by the UNLV third baseman put runners on the corners with A. Williams coming in to tie the game on a wild pitch and Vasquez-Dickson taking second on the play. A strikeout and groundout to first kept a runner on second.
The score held until the fourth inning with the Lobos leaving the go-ahead run on third in the third inning after B. Williams reached on a single to left, stole second and advanced to third on a groundout to second.
A leadoff double by the Rebels and single up the middle put the Rebels in front 2-1 with a double play and groundout to Briones getting the Lobos out of the inning.
Like the third, inning the Lobos left a runner on third after A. Williams led off with a double down the left field line and moved to third on a grounder to shortstop. However, a groundout to third ended the inning.
UNM’s defense kept it a one-run game in the fifth after consecutive singles put UNLV runners on the corners with one out. The Rebels attempted to pull off a double steal with Briones cutting off the throw to second from DeLeon and throwing back home to get the Rebel at the plate. Caitlin Benningfield got out of the inning with a Rebel left on third.
The Lobos took advantage of a Rebel error to tie the game in the bottom of the fifth with B. Williams reaching on an infield single and McKenzie hitting it back up the middle to put two on with one out. A wild pitch moved both Lobos into scoring position, with a ball hit to the shortstop mishandled that allowed B. Williams to score from third and McKenzie to take third on the play. A flyout to right prevented the Lobos from taking the lead.
UNM left five runners on base, four in scoring position and three left on third.
UNLV regained the lead in the top of the sixth on a one-out solo home run to right with the Lobos unable to have a runner reach in the final two at-bats for the final score.
Benningfield threw a complete game in the loss, her fifth of the season, striking out four to three walks and allowing three runs.
The Lobos return to the road to close out the week with a two-game series at Nevada starting Saturday.