The New Mexico softball team finished its conference-opening weekend series with the Utah State Aggies on Saturday by shutting them out 4-0.
The Lobos claimed two games out of three and won their second consecutive game, improving to 17-12 on the season and 2-1 in Mountain West Conference play. UNM fell to the Aggies 7-4 in the first game Thursday, but then took the second game 13-6 on Friday.
Starting pitcher Krissy Fortner was the story of the game on Saturday. She went all seven innings, allowing just three hits and no earned runs in her second start of the season.
Right fielder Cheyenne Smith singled in the bottom of the second inning, plating the first run for the Lobos. Then, in the fourth inning, catcher Jade Gray scored off a wild pitch that went over the Aggie catcher’s head to extend the Lobos’ lead to 2-0.
In the bottom of the fifth inning, designated player Chelsea Johnson homered deep to centerfield to double the Lobos’ lead, putting UNM up 4-0. That was her third home run of the season, the other two also coming within the last three games. The Lobos would close out the game easily as the Aggies failed to get a hit during the last two innings.
“Krissy threw a fantastic game and threw really great, and our defense had some amazing moments as well,” head coach Erica Beach said after the game. “It was just a good team win, we fired on all cylinders; our pitching, our hitting, our defense were all there.”
UNM’s offense hammered out 11 hits in Saturday’s win, with three players recording multiple base hits. First baseman Karissa Haleman went 2-for-3 with a run scored while shortstop Michala Erickson and center fielder Mariah Rimmer each went 2-for-4.
The Lobos will look to keep their momentum rolling into conference play next weekend as the team travels to Reno, Nevada to take on the Nevada Wolf Pack for another three-game weekend series. The team will be back at the Lobo Softball Field on Friday, April 8, when the Fresno State Bulldogs come to town.
Wally Gallart is a sports reporter for the Daily Lobo. He can be reached at sports@dailylobo.com or on Twitter @DailyLoboSports.
Get content from The Daily Lobo delivered to your inbox
