SB: Lobos Drop Saturday Game To Aztecs 12-6

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - The University of New Mexico softball team dropped its fifth game in a row to Mountain West conference foe San Diego State, 12-6, on Saturday at Lobo Field. This is the longest losing streak for the Lobos this season. New Mexico gets another chance at the Aztecs at 1 p.m. on Sunday.

Saturday's contest was a hard-fought one in which UNM (24-15, 0-2) led, 3-1, after two innings thanks to a three-run homer by senior Jessica Lujan-Dresslar in the bottom of the first frame.

The Aztecs (24-19, 5-0) tied the game at 3-all in the top of the third, using a Lobo miscue and two doubles to put up two runs. The following inning, SDSU batted through its lineup and strung together four hits to add three runs. The Lobos answered in the bottom of the inning, also scoring three runs on four hits and tying the game at 6-6 going into the fifth.

A single, a walk and a double in the top of the fifth translated to two Aztec runs, giving SDSU an 8-6 advantage. The Aztecs added one run in the sixth thanks to a leadoff homer by Lorena Klopp and put up three runs off two hits, a hit by pitch and two walks in the seventh for a final mark of 12-6.

New Mexico didn't get a hit after the fourth inning, managing just five against the Aztecs' Bailey Micetich--a three-run homer from Jessica Lujan-Dresslar in the first inning, and singles from Jessica Garcia, Lujan-Dresslar, Sheryl Guillermo and Jordyn Bledsoe in the fourth inning.

"We had a hard time hitting Micetich today and we couldn't get clutch hits to string things together and put runs up," said head coach Erica Beach. "For the most part, we fought hard and we saw some of the things we want to see on a regular basis today. We had a lot more energy, but we just weren't able to close it out."

San Diego State pounded out 13 hits and managed eight walks on the afternoon. Hayley Miles opened Saturday's game just as she did Friday's--with a home run. It is the third-straight contest Miles has led off with a long ball. The sophomore finished the day 2-for-3 with three RBIs, four runs and two walks.

The Aztecs' designated player Lorena Klopp also had a solo homer to lead off the top of the sixth. Klopp finished 3-for-5 with two RBIs.

"We're throwing too many middle pitches," said Beach. "That's the biggest problem. They are a good enough lineup that if you throw it down the middle they're going to hit it. If we throw better pitches and get ahead in the count, we'll be better and more successful. We just fell behind too much today."

Kaela DeBroeck (11-5) got the start in the circle for New Mexico. The junior threw 3.1 innings, allowing seven hits and four earned runs while walking three and striking out two.

Kari Gutierrez (5-6) took the loss for the Lobos. The junior finished the final 3.2 innings, allowing five earned runs on six hits and five walks.

Beach was optimistic by the fight she saw in her Lobos for the first four innings.

"I think we're close and we're heading in the right direction," Beach said. "We need a pitcher to step up tomorrow. All of them are capable of doing it. Hopefully we can get it done."