ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.— After scoring 12 runs in game one against Utah State on Thursday, the Lobo bats continued into game two Friday, scoring 11 runs and winning 11-3 in five innings to take the series.
Of note, Friday was UNM’s first run-rule win over the Aggies since 2015 and the third all-time.
In addition, like Thursday's game, the Lobos scored in all but one inning against the Aggies, scoring multiple runs in three innings.
The Lobos finished with 15 hits with Melanie Macias going 3-4 with two RBI, including the game-ending hit to the gap in left center, Jessica DeLeon also finishing 3-4 with a double and one RBI and Ella Dawson going 2-3 with a double and three RBI. Of the 15 hits, UNM had three doubles and a home run.
The Lobos needed one at-bat to get on the board as DeNae Vasquez-Dickson led off with a solo home run to left field for her third home run of the season. Allie Williams walked on four pitches and DeLeon put two Lobos in scoring position with one out on a double that dropped inside the left field line. Miracle McKenzie loaded the bases on a four-pitch walk before Macias produced the second run on a single to center. A fielder’s choice resulted in the third run and the second out with runners on the corners and Dawson added to the lead with a double to the gap in right center that brought around McKenzie and Hayden Luderer for the final runs of the inning.
UNM scored five runs on four hits, three of which were extra-base hits.
The score held until the third inning with the Aggies getting on the board following a leadoff single, a grounder to Macias at second that moved the runner and a single through the right side that drove in the runner. However, the Lobo defense prevented any further runs after the Aggies loaded the bases on a fielder’s choice to Macias, who got the force out at second for the third out.
A McKenzie walk to start the home half of the third, another four-pitch walk for the Lobos, with Macias hitting the first pitch of her at-bat back up the middle to set up the Lobo run. Luderer laid down a sac bunt to put both runners in scoring position with Dawson hitting a single through the left side that allowed pinch runner Briana Williams to score.
USU scored two final runs on three hits in the fourth inning, with again, the Lobos matching the Aggies’ run production in their at-bats.
Gabrielle Briones led off with a single through the left side of the infield and A. Williams adding a single to right field to put two Lobos on. DeLeon drove in Briones on a single to the gap in left center with A. Williams moving to third on the play. After walking in her first two at-bats on eight pitches, McKenzie was finally pitched to and delivered with a single to right that scored A. Williams, with the Lobos scoring two runs before an out was recorded.
Arianna Capek retired the side in order in the fifth, closing the inning with her third strikeout of the game.
The Lobos put a finishing touch on the game, scoring three runs on five hits to reach run-rule territory in the bottom of the fifth.
Estrella Rowe led off with a single to right and Briones doubled down the right field line with Rowe holding at third. An infield single to second by A. Williams allowed Rowe to score with a throwing error on the play allowing Briones to score. DeLeon kept the hits going with a single to left and after McKenzie walked for the third time on four-straight pitches to load the bases, Macias ended the game on a single to left center.
Caitlin Benningfield picked up her second win of the series, going 3.1 innings with Capek earning her second save of the season after throwing 1.2 scoreless innings, striking out three and not allowing a hit.
UNM closes out the series with the Aggies on Saturday at 12 p.m. MT.