by Brandon Call
Daily Lobo
The UNM softball team opened its fall season with a two-game sweep of New Mexico Highlands on Saturday.
With the wins, the Lobos improve to 30-0 all time against the Cowgirls.
The Lobos battled their way to a 9-5 victory in the first game before cruising to an 11-4 victory in the second game.
Get content from The Daily Lobo delivered to your inbox
UNM head coach Ty Singleton said he was pleased with his team's performance.
"They did an excellent job today," he said. "A very good effort."
Senior catcher Liz Young had a standout day, going a combined 3-for-5 at the plate with two home runs and three RBIs in the doubleheader.
In the first game, the Lobos scored nine runs on 14 hits.
Junior first baseman Lindsey Elcess led the way. She went 3-for-3 with two runs and an RBI. Five UNM players also had multiple hits in the opener.
Trailing 2-0 in the second game, sophomore Analise Rubalcava slammed a solo homerun in the first inning. With the bases loaded in the second inning, first baseman Samantha Hughes doubled, scoring three and giving UNM a 4-2 lead.
In the second game, UNM scored 11 runs on 12 hits.
Freshman shortstop Sara Loeffelholz led the way, going 3-for-4 at the plate with a home run, a double and two RBIs. Hughes also had a big game with two hits, three RBIs and a run scored.
Hughes said the whole team deserves credit for the wins.
"We are playing really well together," she said. "It's just going to get better from here."
The Lobos were not only impressive at the plate but also from the mound. Five UNM pitchers played in the two games.
Caley Peterson got the start for the Lobos in game one. Peterson pitched three innings, allowing only one run on three hits, while striking out three.
In relief, junior Kelly Ninemire pitched three innings of scoreless ball, allowing no hits and striking out three.
Sophomore Brittany Crail closed the game, giving up four runs on four hits in the final inning.
Crail returned for the start in game two and pitched one inning.
Despite UNM giving up just one hit, Highlands scored two unearned runs off of Lobo fielding errors.
Freshman Tori Rogers then pitched three innings of scoreless ball, allowing just two hits and striking out five in relief.
To close, freshman Gabriella Parra pitched three innings, allowing two runs on two hits and striking out two.
The doubleheader also marked the coaching debut of Singleton.
Singleton said he has enjoyed the experience of coaching at UNM.
Singleton said he is proud of the Lobos' work ethic.
"There isn't a player that isn't working hard, and I can't say that about every team that I have coached," he said.
While he praised the team for its performance, Singleton also said there is room for improvement.
"Our communication overall on defense needs to improve," he said. "Offensively, we need to improve on our aggressiveness in the batter's box."
Young said the players are beginning to click with their
new coach.
"I thought it was going to be a tough adjustment," she said. "But really everything we are doing is making us better."
