Box Score COLUMBIA, Mo. - Junior Kate Singler (Witt, Ill./Nokomis/Heartland) went 3-for-3 with a run scored and three RBI, while senior Janay Mitchell (Woodridge, Ill./Downers Grove South) was 2-for-2 with three runs and an RBI, but New Mexico collected five extra-base hits and posted a 14-5 victory against the Braves Sunday afternoon at the Children's Hospital Invitational.
New Mexico (9-12 overall) jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Cristin Anderson led off the game with a walk and a Bradley error put runners on the corners. Cassandra Kalapsa followed up a stolen base with a sacrifice fly to center to drive in the first run of the contest. The Lobos pushed another run across on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Jessica Garcia later in the inning.
Bradley (9-9 overall) struck for two runs in the bottom half of the first. Senior Amanda Clack (Hillsboro, Mo./Hillsboro) had a leadoff single and Mitchell drove her home with a single of her own. Singler plated Mitchell from third with a one-out single as the Braves tied things up at 2-2.
The Lobos struck for three more runs in the top of the second inning. Jessica Lejan-Dresslar walked to open the inning and moved to third on a stolen base and wild pitch. Kerry Hodgins drew a walk and Erin Brandow belted a three-run homer to right center to give New Mexico a 5-2 lead.
Bradley left a runner on in the second and New Mexico pushed the lead to 8-2 with three more runs in the top of the third. Garcia singled and moved to second on a passed ball. Shaunte Duarte drew a walk and the Lobos had runners at second and third after an illegal pitch. Lejan-Dressl followed with a two-run double and stole third. She later scored on Bradley's second illegal pitch of the inning.
The Braves got two runs back in the bottom half of the frame. Mitchell was hit by a pitch and stole second with two outs. Singler drove in Mitchell from second with a double to left center and Singler later scored on a two-out single by sophomore Jackie Roth (Hickory Hills, Ill./Stagg) as Bradley pulled to within 8-4.
New Mexico broke the game open with a four-run fourth inning to take a 12-4 lead. Stefanie Carramusa had a leadoff single and Katie Gilmore had a one-out single to put runners at first and second. The Braves committed an error on a double steal, allowing Carraumusa to score. Garcia walked and Gilmore scored when Duarte hit into a fielder's choice to plate the second run of the inning. Lujan-Dressl capped the inning with her third and fourth RBI's of the contest, when she hit a two-run single down the left field line.
The Lobos pushed the lead to 14-4 with a two-run fifth inning. Anderson doubled to right center and Gilmore drove her in with a two-out single to left field. A Bradley error put runners at second and third and Duarte drove in a run with a double to left center. Garcia, who reached on an error earlier in the inning, was thrown out at the plate to end the inning.
Bradley managed one run in the fifth, but New Mexico would go on to close out the 14-5 victory. Mitchell had a one-out double in the bottom of the fifth and junior Brittany Fairbairn (Lombard, Ill./Glenbard East/Kankakee C.C.) drew a walk. Singler followed with a single through the left side to score Mitchell from second, but New Mexico hurler Samantha Gatson retired the next two batters she faced to close out the contest.
Freshman Mackenzie Camp (Mapleton, Ill./Limestone) suffered the loss for Bradley, falling to 0-2 on the year. Camp gave up four hits and five earned runs in two innings of work. Kaela DeBroeck picked up the win for New Mexico, improving to 4-5 on the season.
Bradley will close out play at the Children's Hospital Invitational later this afternoon with a 5 p.m. game against third-ranked Missouri.
