Senior Lisa Rodrigues waved good-bye to the Lobo faithful by trotting the bases with a walk-off homerun to beat SDSU 3-2 on Sunday.
The Lobos improved to 23-24 (8-12 MW) on the season, snapping a four-game skid in addition to bringing a halt to the squad’s nine-game losing streak at home.
“It was like yesterday, we were just waiting for that one clutch hit to come through,” said head coach Erica Beach.
Reminiscent of Saturday’s offensive struggles, the Lobos were able to get hits but unable to take advantage of opportunities with runners in scoring position. In the second inning, freshman right fielder Cheyenne Smith grounded out with the bases loaded.
In the third inning, with two outs a miscommunication in the infield allowed for a routine out pop-up to drop after a collision between junior third baseman Jasmine Casados and freshman Jade Gray, giving San Diego State the first run of the game. The collision resulted in both players being helped up, a minor scare as both Casados and Gray would return in the next inning. Talk about this play more. I was there when it happened. There was a lot going on, the catcher had to be helped up.
Senior first baseman Karissa Haleman singled to get things going offensively in the bottom of the fourth inning. Gray had a base hit in the inning as well, setting up freshman left fielder Brooke Breland who brought Haleman home off a stand-up double, tying the game up at one apiece. With runners on second and third, the Lobos again failed to capitalize on another opportunity with runners in scoring position.
UNM struggled once again to bring runners home, in the bottom half of the fifth inning, Rodrigues grounded out with runners on second and third.
Nothing would change as both teams failed to score a run in the sixth and seventh innings, taking the game into extra innings.
In the top of the tenth inning, San Diego State’s Leia Ruiz doubled. Then with two outs, Molly Sturdivant doubled to bring Ruiz home and give the Aztecs a 2-1 lead.
With two outs, Haleman singled to maintain UNM’s hopes of tying the game up. Then, during her last at bat at Lobo Softball field, with two strikes and two-outs, Rodrigues belted the game winning, walk off two-run homerun shot giving UNM the 3-2 victory.
“I did that for them, they deserve that,” Rodrigues said. “It felt really good to take one away from them after what happened this weekend.”
Senior pitcher Lauren Soles (6-7) got the nod on Sunday, she went all ten innings throwing 132 pitches, allowing just two earned runs off seven hits.
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“My defense dominated the game, it wasn’t just me. My teammates never gave up even when it looked like we wouldn’t score again,” said Soles on her performance.
“Lauren threw one of the strongest games I’ve seen her throw in her career here, she kept us in the game from beginning to end,” Beach said. “She pitched just as strong in the tenth, as she did in the first.”
New Mexico was able to send all four seniors off with one last home win. On senior day, Mariah Rimmer, Rodrigues, Soles, and Haleman all contributed to the Lobos win, but their most important contribution maybe their impact to the UNM Softball program, their teammates, and their coaching staff.
“All four seniors have been instrumental to this program. They’ve been a strong core with a lot of leadership. They’re very intense and passionate,” said Beach. “Seeing them grow over the past four years has been incredible. I’m really proud that they’re going to graduate and are going to be incredible adults, not just good softball players. And that’s what I’m most proud of.”
The Lobos will head out west for their final series of the season on Friday, May 13 as UNM will travel to California to take on San Jose State.
Wally Gallart is a sports reporter for the Daily Lobo. He can be reached at sports@dailylobo.com or on Twitter @wallyagallart.
