The Lobo softball team finally emerged Tuesday afternoon after a nine-day slumber, and though members were still a bit groggy, they managed a 1-0 win over the Eastern New Mexico Zias at Lobo Field.
UNM had not been in action since March 28 when the Lobos lost to Northern Colorado and North Texas at the Mean Green/Wells Fargo Classic in Denton, Texas. The Lobos had the loss hanging over their heads longer than expected, as Saturday's doubleheader against Colorado State was cancelled and rescheduled due to Lobo Field being flooded by the weekend storm.
"It was completely under water," UNM head coach Kim Newbern said. "We probably had about two or three inches of water in the infield and huge puddles in the outfield."
Newbern said the team could not even practice Friday, Saturday or Sunday, so UNM took the field against the Zias completely cold - and it showed.
Sophomore pitcher Iraina Ogas started out for UNM and allowed two hits, three walks and struck out two batters in three innings. It was Ogas' first time on the mound since March 20.
Senior Amy Dumas relieved Ogas in the top of the fourth and allowed one hit and a walk while striking out four. Junior Ashley Perkins closed out the seventh inning with one strikeout, no hits and no walks.
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Newbern said she thought it was important for each pitcher to get time on the mound Tuesday.
"We had it planned before the game started," she said. "It's been awhile since we've played, and we felt like all our pitchers needed to get some innings in to get ready for this weekend."
UNM and Eastern New Mexico remained scoreless until the bottom of the sixth when Lobo junior Ashley Shartzer got to first on a Zia error that allowed freshman Robyn Hutson to run in from second. UNM and Eastern each got in only three hits.
Dumas said although the Lobos struggled at the plate, the win over the Zias got them moving in the right direction again. Dumas was part of the cleanup crew that worked on the field all day Sunday.
"Oh there was a ton of water," she said. "Everyone was out here. There was one puddle where there were at least 40 buckets full."
Dumas said the team was ready to play Saturday, but members knew it would be difficult in such wet conditions. She also said the risk of injury would have been high.
Newbern said Tuesday's game was a good indicator of what the Lobos need to work on this week before their season opener at UNLV this weekend.
"We still feel like we need to play some more," Newbern said. "Three days off kind of put a lull on things, so we need to get back going again."
The Lobos will head to UNLV on Friday for a doubleheader starting at 5 p.m. Then they will travel to San Diego for another doubleheader Sunday at 1 p.m.
