The New Mexico Lobos softball team lost a close game to No. 1-seed Grand Canyon on May 7, despite a dramatic grand slam by Jessica DeLeon in the seventh inning. The Lobos held a 6-2 lead going into the bottom of the seventh but were defeated when Grand Canyon scored five runs to win 7-6.
The outcome was decided in the final moments after both teams traded leads throughout the game. The loss is significant for the Lobos as it came during tournament play against a top-seeded opponent.
New Mexico trailed early, down 1-0 until the sixth inning. They rallied when DeNae Vasquez-Dickson singled and Gabrielle Briones doubled, bringing Vasquez-Dickson home to tie the game. After loading the bases, Melanie Macias hit a sacrifice fly that gave New Mexico its first lead of the night.
Grand Canyon tied it again in their half of the sixth with their own sacrifice fly, but New Mexico responded with another rally in the seventh. With two outs and bases loaded, DeLeon hit her sixth home run of the season—a grand slam over left field—to put her team ahead by four runs.
However, Grand Canyon mounted their own comeback in their last at-bat. After getting runners on base through singles and walks, they scored twice on a single to center field before tying it up with a double just inside right field. A subsequent double drove in what became the winning run for Grand Canyon.
The Lobos are scheduled to return to action Friday afternoon as they continue postseason play.
