Rebuilding Lobos fall to rival Aggies
UNM holds brief lead, but falters late
A tear rolled down the cheek of first-year coach Paula Congleton after her University of New Mexico softball team fell to rival New Mexico State, 12-7, Wednesday at Lobo Softball Field.
She became emotional, not because of the loss, but more because of being back in a rivalry game against the Aggies.
Congleton, you see, once played for the Lobos, as a threetime All-American first baseman in the 1980s. She choked up when a reporter asked her what it’s like to be back in this game. And she revealed her passion
and her desire to restore a winning tradition at UNM.
“It’s emotional because I left this program and it was a great program, and I’m excited to be back,” Congelton said. “(Excited to be) bringing this program back to the tradition that it deserves. To be proud to wear ‘Lobos’ across the chest. I think it’s been lost a little bit and I’m so excited to bring that back.”
The Lobos (7-22) at times showed flashes of a gritty team, but also as a rebuilding team. UNM led 1-0 through three innings, but then allowed four runs with two outs in the top of the fourth when an embarrassing error occurred.
An infield fly drew three players. Catcher Lauren Wilmert and third baseman Kristyn Whitley collided and crashed into starting pitcher Jensen Main. The ball landed, leading to a run and extending the inning.
But the Lobos responded with four runs in the bottom of the fourth. The highlights: Andrea Howard hit a two-run home run and freshman Day’ Mian Johnson delivered her first career hit, a two-run double. UNM took a 5-4 lead against a team that has played eight of its 27 games against top 25 teams, including then-No. 1 Oklahoma (2-0 loss Feb. 17) and No. 1 Washington (3-2 loss in 10 innings March 10).
“I think that Paula is coming in and I believe she’s going to run a certain style of game here and I believe they will continue to get better,” said NMSU coach Kathy Rodolph, whose team improved to 13-14. “She takes a lot of pride in what she does. You can tell that from warmups and throughout the game they are definitely buying in. We were just able to rattle them.”
The Aggies got to the Lobos in the sixth inning, when NMSU pulled away with seven runs.
Fahren Glackin posted two hits, including a two-run home run and four RBIs to lead the Aggies, who pounded 18 hits, 12 more than the Lobos.
“We’re new,” Congleton said. “It’s about changing the culture. That stuff takes time. We’ve got some things to work on.”
Congleton displayed confidence when talking about rebuilding the Lobos, mainly because she is excited about the 2019 recruiting class and her coaching staff, which includes Megan Betsa, a former All American pitcher at the University of Michigan.
Next year’s recruiting class includes Kiana Spencer, an All American pitcher at Yavapai Community College in Arizona.
“We’re really excited about our ’19 class,” Congleton said. “Those are kids we have hand-picked.”
Congleton said she is also excited about the current players on the UNM team.
The players seem pumped up about their coach too. The players appear to be friends. Johnson said there is great chemistry on the team. That could be seen when players were announced; that’s when the team huddled together and swayed in unison as music played.
“I’m really excited that we have new coaches,” said Main, who pitched five innings, striking out three and allowing four earned runs and 12 hits. “(I’m excited) that they’ve come in and that they are teaching us new things. I appreciate them so much. I can’t even explain into words how helpful they’ve been and how much we’ve improved since last year just by them being here. I’m super excited for this year and the years to come.”
Congleton sees a great future, too. That’s one of the reasons she was emotional after the game. She said she was also happy to be back in Albuquerque with her family.
“I just can’t be happier,” she said. “That’s part of the emotion, it’s the drive and the passion I have for this program and what University of New Mexico did for me in my life. And that’s what it’s about, just getting these kids to grow and be good role models in this community and stand up and be proud to be a Lobo.”