by Brandon Call
Daily Lobo
If Kelly Ninemire's first time pitching against a top-five opponent is any indication of things to come, the UNM softball team should be in good shape for the rest of the season when she takes the mound.
The junior transfer led the Lobos to a 13-1 upset over No. 3-ranked UCLA on Saturday, allowing two hits and holding the Bruins to one run in five innings.
UNM faced tough competition the rest of the weekend in Tempe, Ariz., losing games to No. 5-ranked Arizona State, No. 21-ranked Fresno State, Ohio State and Florida.
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But Ninemire said the tough competition will be something the team can use to its advantage later.
"I think it was a good first weekend as a team," she said. "Just getting the experience playing teams of that caliber, it will help us in the long run."
Ninemire said she pitched well thanks to her help in the field.
"The team was playing strong defensively," she said. "It gave me a lot of confidence with the team behind me. It helped me relax and really focus on my pitches."
The number of runs the Lobos scored took pressure off her, Ninemire said.
"The offense really came alive," she said. "We put the pressure on UCLA since we were ahead. We made them play catch-up."
Last weekend's performance was nothing new for the junior.
The pitcher comes to UNM after two successful seasons at Odessa Junior College in Odessa, Texas.
In 2006, Ninemire posted a 22-8 record with a 0.89 ERA and 215 strikeouts for the Wranglers. She was named a National Junior College Athletic Association All-American, leading Odessa to a fifth-place finish at the NJCAA Tournament.
"My experience at Odessa was a good one," Ninemire said. "It was tough to leave, but I'm still pretty close with everyone on the team."
A native of Texas, Ninemire grew up in the small town of Prosper, about 30 miles north of Dallas.
"I first started playing softball when I was about 12 years old," Ninemire said. "I started pitching a little later, when I was 13 or 14."
In high school, Ninemire led Prosper High School to a regional final her senior year. A four-year letterman in softball, Ninemire posted a career record of 78-14 and notched 838 strikeouts for the Eagles.
Ninemire is optimistic about the rest of the season for the Lobos.
"I think we have so much potential as a team," she said. "We have a really good coaching staff. I just hope that we can bring it all together and live up to our
potential."
Softball at
Lipscomb
March 2, 8 a.m.
Atlanta
