YOUNGSVILLE, La. – The Lobos split their Saturday games at the Mardi Gras Mambo, opening the day with a 6-4 win over Northwestern State before falling to Nicholls 6-1.

Miracle McKenzie led New Mexico at the plate with three hits, including her first home run of the season and a double, while Caitlin Benningfield added two hits between the two games and picked up the save against Northwestern State.

GAME 1: NORTHWESTERN STATE
As the designated home team, the Lobos allowed two runs in the first inning on a double down the left-field line that scored two after the leadoff batter reached on a hit-by-pitch followed by a single to center. Caprice Barela entered to replace starter McKenna Guest and retired the next two Lady Demons on a fly ball to center and a popup to short.

NSU added a third run behind a two-out rally, hitting an infield single, stealing second and a single up the middle that brought the runner around.

The Lobos answered with a two-out run of their own in the home half of the second with McKenzie driving the 2-1 pitch over the wall in left for her first home run of the season. Mya Pacheco followed that with a double down the left-field line but a popup to first kept the Lobos from cutting further into the deficit.

UNM worked around a one-out walk in the top of the third to keep the margin at two runs before taking the lead in the bottom of the third, scoring four runs on three hits.

At the top of the lineup, Briana Williams got the Lobos started on a triple to the gap in left center with Benningfield driving her in on a single to left field. Following a pitching change, Jessica DeLeon put two runners in scoring position on a hit to left field that went off the NSU outfielder’s glove for the fielding error, advancing to second on the play and Benningfield moving to third. Allie Williams tied the game on a sacrifice fly with Benningfield tagging on the play, and after DeNae Vasquez-Dickson walked, McKenzie cleared the bases on a double to right center to give UNM the 5-3 lead.

NSU threatened in the top of the fourth with its first two batters reaching on hits to prompt a pitching change with Benningfield entering the circle, striking out the first Lady Demon she faced and ultimately retiring the first three batters the freshman faced.

The Lobos added a run in the bottom of the fifth with Benningfield leading off the inning on a single through the left side and stealing second to set up an A. Williams RBI on a single through the left side with Benningfield coming around to score.

Benningfield retired the side in order in the sixth, retiring five consecutive batters between the fifth and sixth, as offensively, the Lobos had two runners reach in the bottom of the sixth behind an Estrella Rowe single to right center and Gabrielle Briones getting hit by a pitch, but couldn’t plate any more runs.

Down to the final three outs, NSU led off with a double with the runner moving to third on a ground ball to Briones at short. A strikeout provided the second out before a single through the right side scored the final run. Benningfield closed the game with her second strikeout of the inning and sixth strikeout of the game to earn her first save. Barela pitched 2.2 innings with Benningfield throwing 4.0 and allowed two hits, one walk and one run.

Benningfield and McKenzie led the Lobos with two hits apiece with McKenzie leading with three RBI and A. Williams driving in two.

GAME 2: NICHOLLS
Like the first game, the Lobos were the designated home team and fell behind early, as Nicholls scored four runs in the top of the first.

A leadoff single to left was followed by a hit back to pitcher Arianna Capek in the circle, with the freshman attempting to get the lead runner but throwing the ball away for both to reach safely. A single to center loaded the bases with a single up the middle resulting in the first two runs scoring. However, on the play, the Lobos were able to get the runner from first trying to score with Jewels Hanawahine throwing home and DeLeon tagging the runner for the first out.

The Lobos went to the bullpen as Guest entered in the circle with a runner on third, and following a full-count walk and stolen base, a single to right field scored both runners. With a runner on third, a grounder to Rowe at third resulted in a double play with the freshman throwing to McKenzie at first for the out and McKenzie throwing home with DeLeon making the tag at the plate.

Nicholls added a run in the second after a one-out walk led to a stolen base and the runner advancing to third on a swinging strikeout and wild pitch with DeLeon attempting to get the runner at third. A fielder’s choice to second allowed the runner to score from third before a liner to Rowe ended the inning.

The Lobos had runners reach in the first three innings with DeLeon singling to left in the first, McKenzie singling to right in the second and Benningfield walking in the third, with the Lobos leaving them stranded in all three innings.

The score held until the sixth with Guest retiring the side in order in the third and fifth, with the Lobos getting on the board in the bottom of the inning. Pinch hitter Ella Dawson led off with a single to center with Allysen Pitcox reaching on a throwing error by the pitcher that allowed Dawson to move to third. A. Williams reached on a fielder’s choice with Nicholls trying to get the out at second and throwing it away as Dawson scored. A double play prevented the Lobos from gaining any further momentum and any further runs with popup for the third out leaving a runner left on second.

A couple of throwing errors in the seventh allowed Nicholls to add a final run for the final score.

Guest threw 6.2 innings with two strikeouts with Capek taking the loss.

UNM closes the weekend at the Mardi Grad Mambo against Sam Houston on Sunday at 10 a.m. CT/ 9 a.m. MT.