Softball Falls to New Mexico

Friday, May 4

Albuquerque, N.M.

3:00 PM

University of Utah

New Mexico

5/4/2007 12:00 AM | Softball

May 4, 2007

Box Score

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - The University of Utah softball team (23-23-1 overall, 3-11 Mountain West) jumped out to a 3-0 lead on New Mexico this afternoon but the Lobos exploded for 15 runs in tallying the 15-5 league win over the Utes.

With the victory, the Lobos snap a four-game losing streak and improve to 19-21 overall and to 8-7 in loop action.

"New Mexico came out swinging the bat," said head coach Angie Jacobs. "They wanted it more than we did because we didn't swing the bat and hit the ball like we are capable of doing. Our charge is to come back tomorrow and to be more aggressive and to get back at them."

UNM only had eight hits on the day but benefited from five Utah errors. An astounding nine of the Lobos' 15 runs were unearned on the afternoon.

Karina Cannon got the start and takes the loss, falling to 7-9 on the year. She allowed nine runs but only one of those was an earned run. Cannon only threw for two innings, surrendering five walks and six hits. She fanned three Lobo batters. Haili Squire and Kristie Keller also saw time in the circle in today's outing.

Utah chalked up six hits on the day, three of which came in the three-run first inning. Leading Utah's offense were the 2-for-3 efforts of Meghan Crouse and Staci Hemingway. Hemingway led the team in plating two RBI. Crouse and Diana Phillips also had an RBI on the day.

The Utes raced out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning. Crouse had a leadoff double and Keller sacrificed her to third. While Hailey Davenport reached on an error, it was Phillips' single to left field that scored Crouse, making it 1-0. Hemingway plated the next two RBI with a double up the middle. Her effort cleared the bases, scoring both Phillips and Davenport.

From there, UNM poured it on. In the second, they hung a nine-spot on the board. A solo home run and a grand-slam home run aided the Lobos' effort in that inning. A six-run third, buoyed by a three-run triple, gave the home team a 15-3 lead.

The Utes did respond but with only two runs. An error on UNM's shortstop in the third allowed Keller to score, making it 9-4. And, Crouse's RBI single in the fourth scored Brandie Allen to make it 15-5.

Kelly Ninemire (13-12) is the winning pitcher, allowing six hits and striking out two. Ashley Allen's 3-for-3, five-RBI day paced the Lobo offense.

The same two team dual in New Mexico tomorrow afternoon. It wraps up the road portion of Utah's regular season schedule.