Four-Run Fourth Secures Series Win for Lobos Against Bulldogs
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.— The Lobos used a four-run fourth inning with Ashley Archuleta hitting a ball off the top of the wall in right field with bases loaded to bring in two runs and put the Lobos in front 2-1 with the Lobos adding two more runs for the 4-1 win over Fresno State Friday.
With the win, the Lobos won the series against Fresno State for just the third time in program history, also done in 2022 and 1993. In addition, New Mexico has won six of its last eight games.
Seven different Lobos recorded a hit in the game with Archuleta leading with two RBI and in the circle, it was only fitting that Taylor Snow and Amber Linton earned the win and save, respectively, in their second to last game as a Lobo.
Snow entered to start the fourth and threw 1.2 scoreless innings before Linton entered with two outs and bases loaded in the fifth and pitched the remaining 2.1 innings, ending the game with a strikeout.
The Lobo relievers allowed no runs on six hits and as a staff, left 11 Bulldogs on base. Including Thursday’s game, the Bulldogs have left 24 runners on base in the two games, left the bases loaded three times and had bases loaded an additional time with a double play ending the inning in the second on Friday.
Fresno State plated a run in the first on a bunt, stolen base, advancing to third on a wild pitch and a grounder to Sydney Carithers at third bringing in the run. The Bulldogs had a chance to add to their lead in the second with bases loaded and one out, but a double play in which starter McKenna Guest fielded the bunt, flipped it home to Chloe Yeatts with Yeatts throwing to Ashley Archuleta at first ended the inning.
It was one of four double plays that the Lobos turned in the game, the most in a single game since at least 2006.
FS left two more runners on in the third and just like the second inning, the Lobo defense got out of the fourth on a double play with Rachael Hathoot fielding the ball as she moved towards second, stepped on second and threw to Emma Bramson at first.
The top of the Lobo lineup provided the spark for the fourth inning with UNM scoring four runs on five hits. DeNae Vasquez-Dickson started it with a one-out single to center and Keyannah Chavez followed up with a single to left center, leading to a Bulldog pitching change. Yeatts loaded the bases on a hit to the shortstop, with the Bulldog attempting to get the lead runner but a muffed catch by the third baseman allowed Vasquez-Dickson to reach safely.
Archuleta drove the ball to deep right field, barely missing clearing the fence but bringing in Vasquez-Dickson and Chavez to give UNM the 2-1 lead. Pinch runner Macie Andrews advanced to third on a wild pitch and Bramson extended the lead on a hit that got past the diving second baseman and into the outfield that scored Andrews. The Lobos scored their fourth run on the next at-bat as Elizabeth Baylor flied out to right field with Archuleta tagging to third. An errant throw in on the play allowed Archuleta to score for the 4-1 lead.
UNM scored four runs on three consecutive at-bats in the inning before the inning came to an end.
The Lobos retired the first two Bulldogs in the fifth on a diving grab by Hathoot to rob a hit and a liner to Chavez in left before Fresno State had its next three batters reach to load the bases. Linton entered in relief of Snow, with Linton inducing a grounder to Hathoot who threw to Archuleta for the out at second to leave them loaded.
FS left two more on in the sixth with the Lobos turning a double play in the inning as Archuleta threw to Hathoot who threw to Bramson for the first two outs, and recorded their fourth double play of the game in the seventh as Linton caught a liner back to the circle and threw to first to double off the Bulldog who reached on a hit-by-pitch to start the inning.
The Bulldogs extended the game with a single down the right field line on a 3-2 pitch, but Linton provided the final out on a strikeout.
UNM closes out the series and the season on Saturday at 10 a.m. with senior recognition taking place pregame.