People who compete in athletics are often creatures of habit — prisoners of preparation and routine, even though it is often by design. Maybe they take the same amount of practice swings, bounce the basketball a certain number of times before attempting a free throw, or any number of other things that feel like things are in the proper place and resemble what they have prepared for. "I'm not one for change."
In the series opener on Friday night, the Lobos were finally able to put some runs on the board, but they just couldn't quite find enough in a 7-6 loss to Utah State. They outhit Utah State nine to six, but four USU homers, which accounted for all seven of their runs, proved to be the difference. Kianna Spencer started in the circle for the Lobos, pitching three innings and giving up five runs on four hits, as well as a walk and three strikeouts. UNM struck first, as a Cameryn O'Grady double in the top of the first drove home Aleyah Wilbon to give the Lobos a 1-0 lead. The Aggies answered right back, however, with a solo shot in the bottom half of the inning tying the game at one. Utah State took the lead in the second with a two-run home run from Bailey Lewis and never looked back.
The University of New Mexico softball team (10-26, 1-8 Mountain West) will look to snap a five game losing streak this weekend as the team travels to Logan, Utah for a three game set with the Utah State Aggies. The Aggies (11-18, 2-6 Mountain West) are riding a four game skid after being swept ...
The University of New Mexico Softball team suffered another series sweep this weekend, this time against the Nevada Wolfpack. The series began with a Friday game that the Wolfpack won 7-1. The highlight for the Lobos came in the top of the fourth when MacKenzie Peterson did the splits in order to turn a double-play that was featured on Twitter by the NCAA Softball account. Kiana Spencer got the start for the Lobos, throwing another complete game that included six strikeouts and two walks on 113 total pitches. UNM only was able to muster two hits all evening, with those coming off the bats of Lauren Wilmert and Aleyah Wilbon. Wilmert's hit was the one of consequence, as it drove in the Lobos only run of the day as Cameryn O'Grady, who had reached base via a walk. She narrowly missed a home run on the hit, which would have given UNM a lead. However, it hit off the top of the wall and only scored the one.
The University of New Mexico softball team went 2-3 at the Hawaii Invitational last week, with an additional loss to Hawaii prior to the start of the tournament. In a matchup with the Rainbow Wahine on Wednesday with Kianna Spencer in the circle, the Lobos lost a close matchup 2-1. Spencer threw six innings, giving up five hits, two runs (one earned), four strikeouts and no walks.
The New Mexico Softball team started their season off at the New Mexico State Classic in Las Cruces this weekend, playing three games over two days and recording a 2-1 record to start the season. Victories over UTEP and Creighton were followed by a one-run defeat to the Aggies on Saturday afternoon.
Paula Congleton and the University of New Mexico softball team have added another pitcher to the 2019 roster, this time the team inked transfer Bailey Klitzke from Wichita State. Klitzke will have two years of eligibility remaining beginning next season. Last year, she recorded a 7-2 record highlighted by wins over Oklahoma State and Texas and a 3.10 ERA in 26 appearances, primarily in relief. She also recorded 40 strikeouts in 49.2 innings pitched.
The University of New Mexico softball program added a sixth player to its 2019 class on Tuesday with the signing of infielder Maggie Buckholz out of Salem, Oregon. Buckholz is a four-time All-American and was twice named softball athlete of the year. "I am really excited about Maggie joining this recruiting class," Coach Paula Congleton said in a release. "She brings power, speed and athleticism to our program. She has played in excellent travel ball programs with great coaches. Maggie is not only an outstanding athlete, she is an outstanding student. We are looking forward to seeing her take a leadership role and contributing to our team in the coming years.”
The University of New Mexico softball team was swept in its final series of the season by the Boise State Broncos, who secured the Mountain West title and a place in the NCAA regionals with the win in the first half of Saturday’s doubleheader. Game One The Broncos wasted no time jumping on the Lobos in the first game of the series on Thursday, racking up eight runs in the first inning.
The University of New Mexico softball program added its fifth recruit of the 2019 class last week with the commitment of Skylar Jenkins, an outfielder from Buford High School in Lawrenceville, Georgia. Jenkins hit .415 during her senior season en route to helping her team win its 10th consecutive state championship.
The New Mexico softball team sent its seniors out the way that anyone would want to end their final home game; with a win. Krissy Fortner and Chelsea Johnson led the charge and finished off San Diego State 4-1 for the Lobos first Mountain West series victory of the season. Johnson went 3-for-3 with three runs batted in, including a two-run insurance home run in the bottom of the sixth inning. “It was a really important weekend coming into this, I knew that, but I just wanted to go out with a bang and help my team in anyway possible,” Johnson said. “I didn’t care how I got a hit, I didn’t care what it looked like as long as I got on base and moved runners and did my job, I was going to help my team out.”
The University of New Mexico softball team struggled to put the bat on the ball, managing only six hits compared to San Diego State’s 15 as the Lobos fell 7-3 on senior day. “From our perspective we struggled all day long, head coach Paula Congleton said. “We weren’t really mentally prepared which is kind of a shame when we’re trying to honor our seniors.” Krissy Fortner got the start, and was able to work out of early trouble after allowing the Aztecs to load the bases with two outs in the first inning, but a fly out ended the threat.
University of New Mexico head softball coach Paula Congleton recorded the 400th win of her coaching career in a 5-2 win over the San Diego State Aztecs on Friday night. “I’m really excited, I’m really proud of that,” Congleton said. “I’m really glad that it’s here at UNM. As an alumni, just bringing this program back it’s exciting.” The Aztecs opened the scoring in the top of the first inning off of Lobos starter Jensen Main, as a Shelby Thompson one out single was followed by a single from Katie Byrd that advanced Thompson to third. She came around to score on a Kelsey Munoz single to open up an early 1-0 lead. Main was able to strand the remaining runners, two of 11 runners on the night that the Aztecs left on base.
The University of New Mexico Softball team dropped the final two games to San Jose State as the Spartans completed the sweep to open their new softball field. Game One The New Mexico softball team blew a late 1-0 on Saturday against San Jose State in the second game of the series, the Spartans won 2-1 on a walk off in the bottom of the seventh. Krissy Fortner got the start for the Lobos and pitched a complete game, six and a third innings, allowing three hits, two runs, one earned, with one strikeout. It was Fortner’s first complete game of the season.
The New Mexico softball team (12-33, 5-11 MW) was unable to spoil the christening of San Jose State's (28-15, 12-6 MW) new field on Friday night, as the Spartans won 3-1. The Spartans opened the scoring right away, putting a run on the scoreboard in the bottom of the first. Senior Emma Entzminger recorded the first hit of the game with an infield single, and then stole second to move into scoring position.
Defensive struggles for the University of New Mexico softball team once again reared their head on Wednesday night in a 3-1 loss to the No. 10 Arizona Wildcats in Tucson. Jensen Main had put in one of her best performances of the season for the Lobos, holding the Wildcats to just four hits on the night. The Wildcats opened the scoring in the second with two unearned runs after an error by Kristyn Whitley at third on what would have been the third out allowed a runner to reach. The next batter, Ivy Davis hit a two run home run to give Arizona an early 2-0 lead.
The Lobos are coming off a series loss to Utah State at home last weekend, as well as a midweek loss on Wednesday night to No. 10 Arizona, 3-1. The Spartans come into the weekend with a 27-15 (11-6 MW) record and are coming off a series victory on the road at Colorado State last weekend. SJSU is currently sitting third in the conference.
The University of New Mexico softball team lost an afternoon affair to the University of El Paso Miners on Monday, 7-0. UTEP opened the scoring in the bottom of the first inning, as Kaitlyn Rider drove in Courtney Clayton on a single to right field to score the first run of the game and give the Miners a 1-0 lead heading into the second.
Solutions by The State News
