The 2026 Mountain West Softball Tournament got off to a thrilling start as the New Mexico Lobos made a statement in their first conference tournament appearance since 2006. Facing the #5-seeded Fresno State Bulldogs in a single-elimination showdown, the #4-seeded Lobos delivered a commanding 7-2 victory that had fans on their feet from the first pitch.
The game opened as a classic pitchers' duel between New Mexico's McKenna Guest and Fresno State's Lauryn Carranco. But the deadlock didn't last long. In the bottom of the third, Allie Williams launched a massive 250-plus foot home run that cleared the fence and drove in the game's first two runs, electrifying the Lobos' dugout. Guest appeared to have things under control, but Fresno State's Rylee Bocchini answered back with an RBI single in the top of the fourth, cutting the deficit to one.
Carranco, however, couldn't find her rhythm. In the bottom of the fourth, little-used pinch hitter Ella Dawson stepped up and crushed another two-run homer, restoring New Mexico's momentum. The Bulldogs clawed back in the top of the fifth, capitalizing on a wild pitch with two outs that allowed speedy lefty Kealani Nitta to race home from third and beat the throw. That was enough for Guest, who was pulled for reliever Caitlin Benningfield. Benningfield got the final out, keeping Fresno State at bay.
The bottom of the fifth saw Carranco's tough day continue as she surrendered a third two-run homer—this time to Jessica Deleon with two outs—pushing the Lobos' lead to 6-2. Fresno State turned to two-way star Alyssa Ramirez in relief, but the Lobos weren't done. In the bottom of the sixth, another pinch hitter, sophomore Jasmyn Lloyd, delivered a clutch two-out RBI single to extend the lead to 7-2.
Benningfield took over from there, mowing down the Bulldogs' lineup in the seventh. She even showed off her reflexes, snagging a line drive off Ramirez's bat and turning it into an inning-ending double play. When the final out was recorded, the Lobos celebrated their first conference tournament win since 2005—a milestone that felt a long time coming.
New Mexico outhit Fresno State 10-5 and left just three runners on base all game, a testament to their timely hitting and disciplined approach. Williams and Hayden Luderer each went 2-for-3, while six other players contributed hits in a balanced offensive effort. Guest earned the win, allowing four hits and two runs over 4.2 innings, while Benningfield closed the door with 2.1 innings of one-hit relief.
For a team making its long-awaited return to the postseason, the Lobos showed they belong on the big stage—and they're not ready to go home just yet.