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Lobo softball sweeps into long-awaited postseason
TL;DR
The Lobo softball team has secured a postseason berth for the first time in 20 years after sweeping Utah State, finishing with a 3-1 victory. This win also marks their first .500 or better season since 2015.
Key points
- Lobos secured a postseason berth for the first time in 20 years
- They finished the regular season with a sweep over Utah State
- The team achieved a .500 or better season for the first time since 2015
Lobo softballMountain West softball tournamentCaitlin BenningfieldMcKenna Guest
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Lobo softball playing its best heading into teams first postseason in 20 years
The Lobos are sweeping their way into their first postseason in 20 years.
Pitchers McKenna Guest, Arianna Capek and Mountain West strikeout queen Caitlin Benningfield combined on a one-run gem from the circle to lead the UNM Lobos to a 3-1 win over Utah State on Saturday at the Lobo Softball Field, capping their regular season with a sweep of the Aggies.
Saturday’s win secures for the Lobos the No. 4 seed in next week's Mountain West softball tournament — the first time UNM has played in that event since 2006 — and guarantees the team its first .500 or better season since 2015.
UNM is 26-25 (13-12 in league play) heading into the tournament, which calls for a first-round single elimination game against No. 5 Fresno State seed before entering a double-elimination four-team portion of the bracket.
See you in Reno for the Credit Union 1 MW Softball Championship pic.twitter.com/FezxlLQUYz
— Mountain West (@MountainWest) May 2, 2026
Junior centerfielder Hayden Luderer added to a highlight reel-worth robbery of a home run over the centerfield wall in the fourth inning with a bottom-of-the-sixth bomb of her own over the same centerfield wall — a good 10 feet clear, leaving no chance of her hit suffering the same fate.
HAYDEN LUDERER
Hayden is the pitcher's best friend this weekend. She robs the HR.#GoLobos pic.twitter.com/6vXZscb5jT
— UNM Softball (@UNMLoboSB) May 2, 2026
The Lobos beat Utah State 12-6 on Thursday and 11-3 in five innings on Friday and seem to be playing their best softball of the season at the right time.
“We’re ready to play anybody,” fourth-year Lobo softball coach Nicole Orgeron told the Journal after Friday’s win. “We still have good softball in front of us.”
Reach Geoff Grammer at ggrammer@abqjournal.com or follow him on Twitter (X) @GeoffGrammer.
Q&A
When was the last time Lobo softball made the postseason?
Lobo softball last made the postseason 20 years ago, in 2006.
What seed did the Lobos secure in the Mountain West softball tournament?
The Lobos secured the No. 4 seed in the upcoming Mountain West softball tournament.
Who were the standout pitchers in the Lobos' recent victory?
The standout pitchers in the Lobos' recent victory were McKenna Guest, Arianna Capek, and Caitlin Benningfield.
