ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – In the final nonconference series of the season, the University of North Dakota softball team fell in a pair of games to New Mexico on Tuesday afternoon in Albuquerque, N.M.
 
UND closes the nonconference slate with a 15-22 mark, matching last season's nonconference win total en route to a record-breaking season for victories. The Fighting Hawks now turn their attention towards Summit League action, closing the regular season with 18 conference tilts.
 
GAME 1: New Mexico 7, North Dakota 6
A spirited late-inning rally by the Fighting Hawks pushed the visitors in front heading to the final half inning, but the Lobos countered with four runs in the bottom of the seventh for a dramatic 7-6 win in the day's opener.
 
Trailing 3-2 and down to its final out, UND rallied by stringing together three straight hits and saw five consecutive batters reach to take a 6-3 lead after the frame; however, New Mexico needed only one hit in the inning to strike for a tetrad of runs itself to regain the advantage for good in a wild seventh inning.
 
It was a perfect opening game for Kayleen Schneider at the plate, collecting four hits and driving in four runs in her four plate appearances. Despite never coming around to score herself, the freshman was accountable for four of the six runs plated by the Hawks in the loss. Victoria Minor also recorded a multi-hit affair with a pair of knocks, an RBI, and two runs scored while Jailene Carpio, Dani Romero, and Marina Marzolino all reached multiple times with hits and walks. As a team, UND outhit the Lobos, 8-6, while also drawing five walks. New Mexico was also able to reach via the free pass with nine walks earned in the win.
 
Nica Pica rebounded from a tough first inning to pitch a strong contest in a no-decision effort. The junior threw into the seventh inning, allowing four earned runs, six hits, and six walks while striking out four. Emily Rosas, who entered the game with two on and no outs in the bottom of the seventh, walked three and surrendered a trio of runs to earn the loss.
 
It didn't take long for New Mexico to take the lead, scoring a trio of runs in the bottom of the first to take a 3-0 lead after an inning of play. Pica settled down after the bumpy start, however, allowing only one hit through her next three innings to keep the deficit at three heading to the fifth.
 
UND answered got on the board in the top of the fifth when Minor led off the inning with a single and swiped second to place a runner in scoring position for Schneider. There, the freshman slapped a 3-2 pitch into center field to score Minor and draw the Hawks within two heading to the sixth.
 
In the sixth, a pair of walks and a fielder's choice placed runners of the corners with two outs as Schneider came to the plate again looking to do damage. The rookie needed only one pitch to drive in another run, this time with a single to left field, to trim the deficit down to 3-2. UND loaded the bases, but stranded them full heading to the final frame of play.
 
After a two quick outs in the top of the seventh, UND began to rally. A fielding error allowed Angel Love to reach and extend the inning before a walk to Romero placed the tying run in scoring position for Marzolino who singled to center on a 2-2 pitch that allowed Love to score from second and tie the game at three. The Hawks weren't done as Minor followed with another base hit to center field to push the visitors in front, 4-3, and place runners on the corners once again for Schneider. The freshman kept her career day going with a double to left center to clear the bases and extend the advantage to 6-3, with just three outs to get to complete the comeback win.
 
The comeback wasn't to be, however, as New Mexico drew four straight walks before a 3-RBI triple won the game for the Lobos in walk-off fashion.
 
GAME 2: New Mexico 7, North Dakota 3
New Mexico built a 5-0 lead after two innings of play before holding off the Fighting Hawks' late push once again to post a 7-3 victory and sweep the doubleheader.
 
Deja Miller and Carpio brought home the runs for the Hawks, but it was Miller who was all over the base paths with a trio of hits. The senior tallied a single, double, and triple while also coming around to score a run herself. Carpio also reached base multiple times in the loss, recording a base hit and a walk.
 
Jannay Jones suffered her second straight loss in the circle, surrendering 10 hits and seven runs over six innings of action. The freshman struck out six batters and walked one to be saddled with her eighth defeat of the season.
 
It was the early innings that hurt the Hawks in the finale as the Lobos scored five of their seven runs in the first and second stanzas to build a 5-0 advantage moving to the third. UND started to chip away in the top of the fourth as Carpio drove home Schneider with a single to left center, but the Lobos responded with two runs in the bottom of the fifth to extend the lead to 7-1 after five.
 
UND tried to mount a rally in the final inning once again, as Carpio led off the seventh with a walk before Miller tripled to left field to bring home Carpio and herself with an error by the right fielder. With the lead trimmed down to 7-3, UNM tallied the final three outs of the frame to seal the 7-3 win and the sweep.
 
North Dakota returns to action this weekend with a three-game series at Omaha to open Summit League play beginning on Saturday with a doubleheader. First pitch is scheduled for noon between the Fighting Hawks and Mavericks.