by Steven Fernandez
Daily Lobo
Utah Valley State probably isn't too eager to face Kelly Ninemire again anytime soon.
That's because Ninemire, a pitcher on the UNM softball team, rolled through the Wolverines this weekend, pitching 12 scoreless innings and allowing just four hits and no walks in two games.
The performances helped the Lobos (7-10) win two games of a three-game series with Utah Valley State (9-14) on Saturday and Sunday at Lobo Field.
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UNM head coach Ty Singleton said he was impressed with Ninemire's domination of the same lineup on consecutive days.
"It's exciting to see her throw the ball so well in back-to-back games," he said. "For her to throw a shutout again today was very encouraging. I'm real proud of her."
Ninemire led the Lobos to a 3-0 victory in the first game of Saturday's doubleheader. The Wolverines took the second game 5-3.
With the series on the line, Ninemire started Sunday's game and cruised, helping UNM to an 8-0 victory. She gave up just one hit, did not allow a walk and struck out five batters in five innings. The game was called after the fifth inning because of the eight-run rule.
Rather than take all the credit herself, Ninemire said the win was a team effort.
"This game was great all the way around," she said. "Our defense was good, and hitting was good, so it was easy to come out with a big win like this."
UNM leadoff batter Samantha Hughes had a big day at the plate Sunday, scoring after all three of her plate appearances and starting the bottom of the first with a home run.
She finished 2-for-2 with a home run, a walk and a triple. In the top of the fourth, she also made a leaping catch in center field, crashing into the fence while saving a possible home run.
Singleton said it was important to see his leadoff hitter and center fielder have such a solid all-around game.
"That was fun," he said. "To lead the game off with a home run, that was a great shot. I'm just real proud of her and her efforts, and that catch that she made in center field was outstanding."
Hughes said she found a rhythm in Sunday's win.
"I just really relaxed when I was hitting," she said. "I was seeing the ball really well. We just got really comfortable and started hitting like we can."
The Lobos led 3-0 heading into the bottom of the fifth before they began an offensive onslaught. Analise Rubalcava and Amy Ray hit back-to-back homers in the inning and all seven batters reached base.
After Sara Loeffelholz singled Katie Gilmore home to extend the lead to 8-0, the game was called.
The fifth inning in Sunday's game is the kind of performance Singleton expects out of his hitters, he said.
"That was a very successful inning and, I think, showed what our hitters our capable of," he said. "That was a positive, and it's going to do nothing but give us confidence of what we can do at the plate."
Softball
at Arizona
Friday, 7 p.m.
Tucson, Ariz.
