Defensive struggles for the University of New Mexico softball team once again reared their head on Wednesday night in a 3-1 loss to the No. 10 Arizona Wildcats in Tucson.
Jensen Main had put in one of her best performances of the season for the Lobos, holding the Wildcats to just four hits on the night.
The Wildcats opened the scoring in the second with two unearned runs after an error by Kristyn Whitley at third on what would have been the third out allowed a runner to reach. The next batter, Ivy Davis hit a two run home run to give Arizona an early 2-0 lead.
The Lobos lone run of the game came in the fifth inning when Sydney Broderick led off the inning with a single. With freshman Taylor Jones pinch running, Sydney Townes walked to give the Lobos two on with no one out. Aleyah Wilbon stepped to the plate with one out and was able to drive Jones home from third on a fielder’s choice to cut the Wildcats lead to one run.
Arizona added their third and final run of the game in the bottom of the sixth when Aleah Craighton singled with two outs to drive in Alyssa Palomino.
Main took the loss with a final line of six innings pitched, four hits, three runs (one earned), four walks and three strikeouts. Her Arizona counterpart Alyssa Denham pitched seven innings, allowing five hits, one unearned run, walking four and striking out ten en route to the win.
The Lobos return to action on Friday, April 27, against San Jose State in the first of a three game series.
Cameron Goeldner is a sports beat reporter and photographer for the Daily Lobo. He primarily covers men’s soccer and softball but also contributes content for baseball, basketball, football and track and field. He can be contacted at sports@dailylobo.com or on Twitter @goeldfinger.
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