RENO, Nev.— The Lobos hit three home runs in game one of the 2026 Credit Union 1 Mountain West Softball Championship on Wednesday against No. 5-seed Fresno State, defeating the Bulldogs 7-2 to advance in the bracket.
Allie Williams got the scoring started with a two-run home run in the third inning with Ella Dawson hitting a pinch-hit two-run home run in the fourth inning and Jessica DeLeon hitting a two-run home run in the fifth inning. Pinch hitter Jasmyn Lloyd hit a single to center that brought in Estrella Rowe for the final run in the sixth.
The win marked UNM’s first in the Mountain West Championship since 2005 and all seven runs scored by the Lobos came with two outs, increasing UNM’s two-out run total of the season to 106.
In the circle, McKenna Guest pitched 4.2 innings allowing two runs on four hits with Caitlin Benningfield earning the save after throwing the final 2.1 innings, allowing one hit without allowing a run. Guest moved to 12-9 on the season with Benningfield picking up her fifth save, tied for the second-most saves in a season in program history.
UNM finished with 10 hits behind Williams and Hayden Luderer leading with two hits with four going for extra bases as Estrella Rowe hit a double.
After a scoreless two innings by the Lobo defense, UNM had its first chance to get on the board after Melanie Macias registered UNM’s first hit in the bottom of the second on an infield single and Luderer following up with another infield single to third base. However, a foul out to third left both on base.
The Lobos got on the board in the bottom of the third with a two-out, two-run home run by Williams, her 10th home run of the season. Briana Williams led off with a single to center and a fielder’s choice that put DeNae Vasquez-Dickson on first followed by a flyout set up A. Williams’ home run.
Fresno State cut the Lobo lead in half in the top of the fourth on a single through the right side with runners on second and third with the runner on second holding at third. A liner to Gabrielle Briones at shortstop left two runners on.
UNM answered with runs in the home half of the inning, again with two outs as Luderer reached on a one-out single to right and Dawson entered to pinch hit and drove the 1-2 pitch over the fence in center field for her second home run of the season.
Much like the fourth inning, the Bulldogs added another run in the fifth on a one-out double, a liner to Luderer in center with the runner tagging to third and a wild pitch. A groundout to Macias at second ended the inning.
The Lobos hit their third home run of the game and a two-run home run in the third consecutive inning, again coming with two outs. A. Williams hit a two-out single to right center with DeLeon hitting a two-run home run off the netting covering the scoreboard in right center for her fifth of the season.
Wednesday was the ninth game in which UNM has hit three home runs in a game.
A double play with a liner back to Benningfield in the circle with the freshman throwing the ball to first ended the sixth inning.
Again, the Lobos produced a run with two outs with Rowe doubling down the left field line and Lloyd worked a full count before a single to center field that dropped in front of the Bulldog outfielder to score Rowe for the final run of the game.
A leadoff walk in the top of the seventh inning was erased by a double play with Briones fielding the grounder, stepping on second and throwing to Miracle McKenzie at first. A grounder to Benningfield recorded the final out.
With the win, UNM improves to 27-25 on the season and will face No. 1-seed GCU on Thursday at 3 p.m. PT/ 4 p.m. MT.