Due to inclement weather, New Mexico cut its trip to Colorado State short, but not before winning both games in a doubleheader with Colorado State on Friday.
UNM won game one of the doubleheader 14-3 and game two by a 7-6 count. The Friday sweep improved UNM to 20-17 on the season and 5-6 in Mountain West play.
“I knew our team could come out of the gate strong, as long as we kept our energy up and didn’t let the impending weather conditions distract us,” head coach Erica Beach said.
The Lobos fell behind early during game one, trailing 2-0 in the second inning. But with the bases loaded, Jasmine Casados scored off a CSU wild pitch. Then during the same at bat, Jade Gray grounded out to short but brought in Chelsea Johnson to tie the game up at 2 apiece.
Colorado State responded in the bottom half of the second inning to take a 3-2 lead, then in the third inning Casados tied the game up with an RBI double. Moments later, Johnson hit a two-run shot giving the Lobos a 5-3 lead.
Cheyenne Smith scored in the fifth inning off a CSU infield error, where the Lobos would capitalize off another Rams error in the sixth inning, propelling UNM a 7-3 lead. With the bases loaded in the same inning, Mariah Rimmer doubled bringing in two more runs extending the lead 9-3.
Once again, with the bases loaded and one out, Johnson hit another one out of the park. This one was a grand slam over the centerfield wall, giving the Lobos a comfortable 13-3 lead.
Later in the top half of the sixth, Jade Gray hit her first career home run putting the game away for New Mexico 14-3.
In game two, the Rams would once again take an early lead 2-0 after two innings. However, Brooke Breland tied the game up with a two-run homerun in the third inning to break open the scoring party.
Johnson hit a two run RBI single, and Lisa Rodrigues would add another run as well, putting the Lobos up 5-2 after three innings.
In the fifth inning, Johnson once again hit an RBI single to score Rimmer, building the lead 6-2.
CSU would cut the UNM lead in half in the sixth with a two run home run.
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Johnson would bring in another run in the top half of the 7th and the Lobos led 7-4 before a three-hour rain delay.
In the bottom half of the seventh, Colorado State hit another two-run homerun cutting the Lobos down to just one. However, Krissy Fortner was able to close things out with her fifth save of the season, and the Lobos’ second straight win.
“I allowed myself to relax and not put so much pressure on myself and do what I do best and do what I know how to do,” Johnson said after the doubleheader. “I could feel my teammates in each and every at bat with me.”
Johnson led the way for UNM, going 7 for 8 with two homeruns, and 10 RBIs.
“Our bats finally exploded and we got some major offensive output, our defense was fantastic,” said Beach. “Overall it was great to get two wins before the bad weather hit, I’m proud of them.”
New Mexico will be back at Lobo Softball Field on Friday, April 22 at 5 p.m. to take on UNLV.
Wally Gallart is a sports reporter for the Daily Lobo. He can be reached at sports@dailylobo.com or on Twitter @wallyagallart.
