Lobos, Utes Split Softball Doubleheader

Sunday, May 1

Albuquerque, N.M.

12:00 PM

University of Utah

New Mexico

5/1/2005 12:00 AM | Softball

May. 1, 2005

Utah-New Mexico -- Box Score Game 1
Utah-New Mexico -- Box Score Game 2

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M - The University of Utah softball team split its doubleheader this afternoon with Mountain West Conference rival New Mexico, taking game one, 5-3, but dropping a one-run loss in the night cap, 3-2.

The Utes' record stands at 18-25 with a 6-10 mark in league play. The Lobos are 14-29 overall with a 4-12 MWC tally.

Lindsie Nielsen took the circle in game one and tallied her second straight win. She upped her mark to 8-12 for the year in allowing 13 Lobo hits and two earned runs. UNM failed to take advantage of four Ute errors in game one. Brianna Gourdin (10-12) is credited with the loss in game two. She allowed eight hits, two earned runs and walked two Lobo batters.

Jackie Wong and Diana Phillips both led the way at the plate for the Utes with four hits each on the day. Phillips went 4-for-6 (.667) with two runs scored while Wong was 4-for-7 (.571) with three runs. Ivette Hernandez was 3-for-5 with three RBI and a home run.

Utah 5, New Mexico 3

The 1-2-3 batters for Utah were too much for the Lobos to handle as the Utes pounded out 13 hits in surging past their rivals for the three-run win in game one.

Through the first four innings, the top of the order (Jackie Wong, Diana Phillips and Ivette Hernandez) were 8-for-8 at the plate, tallied four RBI and scored four runs.

However, it was the cleanup batter, Devina Quintero, that got it all started in the first inning. With runners on second and third, Quintero laid down the suicide squeeze to plate Wong. It gave Utah a brief, 1-0 lead.

The home team responded with two runs in the bottom of the first, only one of which was earned. It could have been a two-run lead if it weren't for stellar Utah defense. Cassie Chavez singled to left field, allowing Ryanne Hodgins to advance on home from second. But, a spot-on throw from Meghan Crouse in left to Bryanne Durrence at home pegged the would-be scorer at the plate.

But, Utah rallied from the 2-1 deficit with one swing of the bat in the third. With Phillips and Wong on base, Hernandez parked a shot over the fence in right-center to put Utah up for good, 4-2.

The two teams then traded runs. In the fourth, Utah went up 5-2 when Phillips' RBI-single to short scored Wong. UNM hung the last score on the board when Ashley Allen reached on an error. It allowed Kristina Schmallen to score and made it 5-3.

Nielsen got the win for the Utes in striking out one and walking two. She allowed nine hits and two earned runs. Ashley Perkins lost for the home team. She struck out two, walked one and scattered 13 hits. All five runs were earned.

Utah 2, New Mexico 3

The Utes raced out to a 2-0 lead in their first at bat but couldn't hold back the Lobos as they plated three unanswered runs, including two in the fifth, to nab the come-from-behind victory in game two.

Sarah Lyman did all the damage for the visitors as she tallied a two-RBI single up the middle in the top of the first. Wong, who led off with a single, and Phillips, who bunted her way on to first, both scored on Lyman's hit.

However, that was all the offense for Utah. Liz Young got the rally started for UNM when she hit a sacrifice fly to left field in the second inning. Lindsey Elcess would score from third to cut the Utah lead in half, 2-1.

The home team plated the game-tying and game-winning runs with a two-run fifth. Ashley Allen would single to right field with two on board. Kristina Schmallen scored from second and Cassie Chavez then scored the go-ahead run from first on a throwing error.

Gourdin took the loss in scattering eight hits, and walking two. Only two of the UNM runs were earned. Katie Gregg walked away with win in holding Utah to five hits and two earned runs. She fanned three Ute batters and walked one.