Yeatts Homers in Consecutive Games as Broncos Win Series Finale Sunday

BOISE, Idaho— Chloe Yeatts hit her ninth home run of the season and a home run in consecutive games for the third time this season to cut the Lobo deficit in half in the sixth inning, but the Broncos won the series finale on Sunday 8-4.

Seven different Lobos recorded a hit in the game, led by a 2-3 showing by Ashley Archuleta, however the Lobos left 10 runners on base in the game including six in scoring position compared to five for BSU.

After a scoreless first for both teams, the Broncos opened the scoring in the second using a walk, a double to the gap in right center with the runner scoring from first on a fielding error and the batter taking third on a throwing error. A wild pitch scored the second run before starter Amber Linton retired the next three batters.

BSU added to its lead in the third on a three-run home run and a run in the fifth.

The middle of UNM’s lineup spurred the Lobo runs to start the sixth with Elizabeth Baylor leading off with a single to center followed by a walk from Archuleta following a full count. After just missing on a home run to center in the fourth inning in what would have been a three-run home run, Yeatts sent the 3-2 pitch to left center for the three-run home run to make it 6-3.

BSU responded with two runs of its own in the bottom of the inning to push the deficit to five, with the Baylor, Archuleta and Yeatts contributing to UNM’s final run of the game in the top of the seventh.

Baylor drew a four-pitch, one-out walk with Archuleta adding a single to right field to put two on for Yeatts and forcing a Bronco pitching change. Yeatts hit the ball to left with the ball hitting off the outfielder’s glove for the error and allowing Baylor to score from second. Two fly balls on the next two at-bats prevented the Lobos from getting any closer as the game came to an end.

In the circle, Linton pitched a combined 3.0 innings with one strikeout, five runs allowed (four earned) on four hits, with Brooke Umali throwing 3.0 innings and allowing one run (unearned), one hit and striking out three.

UNM closes MW play at home against Fresno State in a three-game series starting on Thursday at 6 p.m.