by Justin Goodrum
Daily Lobo
A walk-off home run in the first game gave UNM all the momentum it needed to sweep a doubleheader Sunday against San Diego State.
This Mountain West Conference rivalry has been unfriendly to the Lobos, as the Aztecs lead the all-time series 39-21 and outscored UNM 30-12 in their last five wins.
Both teams got off to a slow start offensively in the first game. The first run wasn't scored until the top of the third inning. San Diego State's Erin Mahoney's bunt gave the Aztecs an early 1-0 lead.
The Lobos responded in the fifth with an RBI single by sophomore Amy Ray to tie the score.
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The game went into extra innings, setting the stage for a dramatic ending.
In the bottom of the eighth, the Lobos had a chance to win the game after the Aztecs failed to score in the top of the inning.
Junior Kristina Schallen's walk-off home run gave the Lobos the victory and momentum heading into Game 2, head coach Kim Newbern said.
"They were more relaxed and they knew they had at least a split for the day," she said. "That game was huge for us. We played solid defense and stayed with the pitcher."
The dramatic victory paid off as Lindsey Elcess hit her fifth home run of the season along with the Lobos adding three other runs, which gave them the Game 2 victory, 4-1.
In spite of the two wins, Newbern said her team will have to prepare differently for Colorado State.
"All the teams are so different," Newbern said. "The girls are going to be proud that they got two wins, but the teams are just so different. So it's a whole different ballgame when we get up there."
