Junior Megan Sweet went 2-for-2 with two runs scored and an RBI and freshman Chase Redington came on in the bottom of the sixth and retired the final six batters for her third save of the season as the Nevada softball team defeated New Mexico, 7-4, on Saturday afternoon.
After going the distance in the first game of the series on Friday, senior Megan Dortch (3-5) picked up the win for Nevada (12-23, 2-4 MW) after throwing five innings with five strikeouts.
Sweet led-off the top of the second inning with a double to the right-center field gap and went to third on a single from junior Amanda Weis. Sweet then tagged from third and scored to give the Pack a 1-0 lead on a sacrifice fly from freshman Jennifer Purcell.
After Dortch tossed a scoreless third, the Pack got the bats going again in the top of the fourth. Sweet and Weis produced back-to-back hits again to give Nevada runners at first and second. With one out, freshman Alyssa Mendez singled to center to load the bases for senior Ashley Butera. Butera reached on a fielder's choice to center field and Mendez was thrown out at second but Sweet scored and made it 2-0 Pack. Junior Danielle Wiltz followed and singled through the left side to score Weis and Butera all the way from first after the ball was bobbled by the left fielder to extend the Nevada lead to 3-0.
The Lobos responded in the bottom half of the inning by plating four runs to tie the game at 4-4. Nevada didn't waste any time getting the lead back though as the Pack put together a rally in the top of the sixth. With one out, Butera smacked a single through the right side and was pinch-ran for by sophomore Raquel Martinez. Martinez stole her fifth base of the season to move into scoring position and later went to third after a walk from Wiltz and senior Karley Hopkins was hit by a pitch. With two out, Jenkins picked up an RBI after being hit by a pitch to give Nevada a 5-4 lead. Sweet was the very next batter and she was also hit by a pitch to make it 6-4 Pack. Smart base running from senior Karley Hopkins helped Nevada tack on another insurance run that pushed the lead to 7-4.
Dortch surrendered a lead-off single in the bottom of the sixth and was lifted in favor of Redington. The freshman then retired the next six batters on 19 pitches to seal the victory and prevent the sweep.
The Pack will return to action on Tuesday, April 7 at Hixson Park for a doubleheader against San Diego State at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.
Nevada Press Release
4/4/15
