The University of New Mexico softball program, helmed by coach Paula Congleton, is looking to leave last season’s record of 10-36 in the dust. With the hard work of two new coaches as well as the new and returning players, that dream can become a reality.
One of the biggest challenges for the team last season was in the bullpen and having relief for pitcher Emma Guindon, who had the best earned run average on the team (5.00) and pitched 141.1 innings — more than twice the number of innings of any other pitcher on the team.
Since last season, the staff brought on volunteer assistant coach Mike Forsythe and added three new pitchers: Amber Linton, Samantha Fohrman and McKenna Kostyszyn.
Linton transferred to UNM as a sophomore in fall 2021 with a recorded 4.87 ERA and 21 strikeouts in 44.1 innings during her previous season with the Indiana University Hoosiers. Since becoming a Lobo, she’s already noticed a marked improvement from where UNM’s pitchers started in the fall to where they are now.
“(Forsythe) has really pushed the pitching staff to just new levels, like with our drills, pitching live every single week, which is something that a lot of teams aren't getting to do,” Linton said. “I just feel like our staff has been able to push each other to the next level, which is really cool.”
Congleton echoed her player’s sentiments and explained how each of the six pitchers on the team bring a different strength to the mound, from rise balls and curve balls to change-ups resembling bouncing yo-yos.
“We feel like the bullpen has done a really great job. I feel like both sides of the ball, we are doing a really good job,” Congleton said.
The player to watch this season is outfielder Andrea ‘Homerun’ Howard. She’s returning to play as a Lobo after being awarded MVP at the gold medal game in the European Softball Championships and playing in the Tokyo Olympics with the Italian women’s national softball team last summer.
In the 2020-21 season, Howard led the Lobos offensively with a .336 batting average, 33 runs batted in, 12 home runs, 42 hits and 91 total bases. Heading into her final season with such an esteemed track record, Howard remains humble about the future.
“I think it's the same level of pressure; softball is softball no matter where you play it,” Howard said. “I am really excited to be back representing my hometown again, and I'm just excited to be with my teammates for one last ride.”
Another challenge to overcome is the team’s predicted performance. The Mountain West preseason poll was posted on Wednesday, Feb. 3 and predicted the Lobos will finish seventh out of the nine teams in the conference with 17 points.
However, last year’s preseason poll predicted the Lobos in last at ninth with only 11 points, but they ended up finishing seventh with a 9-15 conference record. If the Lobos continue this trend, bolstered by their new players and renewed pitching strategy, there’s a chance they could place in the middle of the pack if not higher.
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An underreported aspect of play that helps set the Lobos apart is their team-building, and they’ve done events like rope courses in the mountains or Lego building competitions. Freshman utility player Olivia Birkinshaw recognizes the uniqueness of their bond.
“Honestly, I want to say our team chemistry is one of our greatest strengths because we all play so well together, and we're so comfortable with each other. I feel like that's really going to take us far as we pick each other up all the time,” Birkinshaw said.
Congleton has worked hard to make teamwork an important part of the culture on and off the field and said the mascot of a Lobo is more than fitting.
“The wolf runs in the pack; they don't survive on their own. And we never leave anybody behind. We have to function as a pack. And so that's kind of what our pack mentality is,” Congleton said. “I'm most excited about our kids really supporting each other, loving each other, backing each other up.”
The Lobos start their season off at the Candrea Classic in Tucson, Arizona where they will play against the Oregon State Beavers on Friday, Feb. 11. Their first home game will open the Lobo Classic against the University of Texas at El Paso on Thursday, Feb. 24.
Shelby Kleinhans is the multimedia editor at the Daily Lobo. She can be contacted at multimedia@dailylobo.com or on Twitter @BirdsNotReal99
