LAS CRUCES, N.M. - New Mexico State softball defeated UMKC 15-3 on Friday to advance to Western Athletic Conference Championship game. This is the fifth-straight year NM State advanced to the WAC Championship
How it happened
The Aggies struck in the top of the first inning after Rachel Rodriguez was hit by a pitch. With two outs, Victoria Castro hit a double to right center field, scoring Rodriguez for the first run of the game. The Roos bats came alive in the bottom of the inning when a single followed by a double scored a run for UMKC (17-38, 5-10 WAC), tying the game 1-1.
After a scoreless inning for both teams, Haley Nakamura started a scoring rally for NM State (27-23, 11-4 WAC) when she drew a leadoff walk in the third. Castro sent a long ball over the left center fence, giving New Mexico State the 3-1 advantage. Nakamura started another rally in the following inning when walked with two outs. Kelsey Horton followed the senior by hitting her second home run of the tournament, a home run to center field, which gave the New Mexico State a 5-1 lead.
In the bottom of the fifth, UMKC cut into the Aggies' lead when Ashlin O'Brien started the inning with a single. Maegan Rollow scored the runner with a double down the left field line. After a ground out advanced Rollow, she came home on a wild pitch by relief pitcher Samaria Diaz.
Nikki Butler started the sixth with a double to right field. After Bergeson came in to run for Butler, Hoohuli grounded out advancing the runner. Jeanelle Medina followed by hitting a single down the left field line, scoring a run. Nakamura hit into a fielder's choice and Horton walked giving the Aggies two runners on with two outs. Castro recorded her fourth RBI of the game with a single to left field, extending NM State's 7-3 lead.
The Aggies added eight insurance runs in the seventh which started with Caity Szczesny hitting a single to left field. A pair of wild pitches advanced the runner to third with Fahren Glackin at the plate. She singled through the right side, scoring Szczesny from third. Butler was hit by a pitch for a record 12th time this season to put runners on first and second. Misty Hoohuli hit a double to the left center gap, scoring both runners. Medina followed Hoohuli with a single and Nakamura walked, loading the bases for Horton. She hit a sacrifice fly to center field, giving the Aggies a 11-3 lead..
After Castro walked to load the bases, Kaitlyn Rubio singled scoring a pair of runs for New Mexico State. Szczesny reached first for the second time in the inning by drawing a walk to load the bases again. Glackin hit her second single of the inning, which scored the final two runs of the game and gave New Mexico State the 15-3 victory.
Kayla Green recorded her 12th win this season in the Aggies victory. She pitched four innings and gave three runs on nine hits. Samaria Diaz pitched three innings in relief. She gave up two hits and struck out seven.
The Aggies take on Seattle U on Saturday in the WAC Championship game, NM State fell to the Redhawks 6-4 in the semifinals of the tournament. The Aggies must win two games against to SU to win the title since the tournament is double elimination. First pitch on Saturday is set for 1 p.m.
