by Brandon Call
Daily Lobo
In a doubleheader sweep of Odessa College on Saturday, the starting pitcher for Game 1 probably looked familiar to the Lobos' opponents.
That's because UNM softball pitcher Kelly Ninemire spent her first three seasons pitching for Odessa.
"Last year, there were only three seniors, so pretty much it was the same team," Ninemire said. "I'm still pretty close with them. It was definitely a challenge."
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Ninemire helped the Lobos improve to 4-0 on the season.
UNM beat the Wranglers 7-6 in the first game, before an 8-7 extra-inning victory in Game 2.
In the first game, the Lobos scored seven runs on 10 hits.
Freshman Gabriella Parra led the way for the Lobos, going 3-for-4 with two runs and an RBI.
Senior catcher Liz Young had a big game at the plate. Young went 2-for-3 with an RBI in Game 1.
While Ninemire got the start, sophomore Brittany Crail led the UNM rotation in Game 1. Crail allowed three hits in 2 2/3 innings of scoreless ball.
The Wranglers jumped out to a 7-0 lead in the second game.
However, the Lobos rallied back for a comeback win.
UNM scored a run in the third and fifth innings to inch closer to the Wranglers, 7-2. The sixth inning had the Lobos score five more runs, thanks in part to two Odessa errors, which forced extra innings.
In the bottom of the eighth, UNM sophomore Rachel Balkovec came through with a clutch hit to right field to score the game-winning run.
"Once it hit the ground, I'd say, it felt like a complete game, a complete effort from everyone," Balkovec said. "I was relieved, to be honest."
In addition to having the winning hit for the Lobos, Balkovec went 2-for-3 at the plate with a walk and three RBIs.
"Overall, I think we could have played better," Balkovec said. "But I am really proud of how we kept going after the win, even being down seven to nothing."
Freshman first baseman Katie Gilmore also contributed to the UNM comeback, going 3-for-3 from the plate with three RBIs and four runs scored.
On the mound, it was senior pitcher Caley Peterson who helped the Lobos win the second game. Peterson went five scoreless
innings for UNM, giving up only two hits and striking out two.
UNM head coach Ty Singleton said he was proud of the way the team won the second game.
"It's always fun to win," he said. "To come from behind and win shows that they can get knocked down and get back up again. They got their nose bloodied today and to be down seven to nothing and still plugging away, it's encouraging to see that kind of comeback."
Although it was an exciting victory, it's not the kind of win he wants to go through a lot, Singleton said.
"I would say that I thought we looked very good at times," he said. "I thought we looked a little bit inconsistent today. I thought we were more consistent the first game last weekend."
The Lobos next take on Phoenix Community College on Thursday in Phoenix in a doubleheader before taking part in the Arizona Fall Classic next weekend to conclude their fall schedule.
Singleton said he expects the team to keep progressing.
"I want to go into next weekend not really giving any result goals, but approach goals," he said. "As long as we are staying aggressive, I feel like we are going to keep improving and getting better."
