The New Mexico softball team improved to 13-8 on the season with a doubleheader sweep over UTEP Tuesday in El Paso, Texas.
The Lobos jumped ahead early in the first game behind a six-run opening inning that included three straight hits. The Miners got two runs back in the bottom half of the inning, but UNM picked up single runs in the fifth and sixth to preserve the six-run victory.
Lauren Soles (3-2) earned the pitching win, the 28th of her career, after starter Tess McPherson threw only two innings. Soles gave up only three hits and struck out four Miners, while McPherson allowed five hits and a walk.
Krissy Fortner saw relief action in the final inning, striking out a batter.
Of the 11 Lobo hits, three players went 2-for-4 from the plate: right fielder Cheyenne Smith, designated player D’Andra DeFlora and center fielder Moriah Rimmer, who also had two runs scored and two RBIs.
The second game proved to be much tighter. With UNM up 3-1 through 5 1/2 innings, UTEP took the lead with a three-run fifth inning. The Lobos tied the game with single sixth-inning run and pushed ahead 7-4 with a three-run seventh.
UNM then withstood a rally and contained UTEP to only two runs in the final half inning.
Rimmer continued to spark the Lobos offensively in the second game, going 3-for-4 with two runs scored. Smith and Shelby Franc went 2-for-3 as Smith added two runs. Third baseman Jasmine Casados brought home two RBIs in Game 2.
Freshman pitcher Colette Robert (7-4) grabbed her seventh win, surrendering four earned runs on nine hits and striking out two. In relief, Krissy Fortner gave up two earned runs on five hits.
J.R. Oppenheim is the assistant sports editor for the Daily Lobo. He primarily covers men’s basketball and women’s soccer. Contact him at sports@dailylobo.com or on Twitter @JROppenheim.
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