LAS VEGAS – New Mexico State softball closed its run at the Rebel Classic on Saturday afternoon with a pair of contests against No. 1 Washington and tournament host UNLV. The Aggies fell in both contests at Eller Media Stadium, first to the top-ranked Huskies 3-2 in ten innings followed by the Rebels 5-2.
"It was a weekend full of challenges and throughout the entire time, we continued to grow as a team" head coach Kathy Rodolph said. "Although the outcomes didn't go in our favor as far as wins and losses, we are a much stronger program leaving compared to when we got here."
GAME ONE
Analise De La Roca earned the start in the circle for NM State (11-12) and pitched a scoreless inning before struggling in the second as she gave up a pair of singles with two outs recorded, Washington (27-0) hit its third-straight single and the runner from second looked to score on the play, but Destiny Blueford hurled the ball to Nikki Butler at the plate and the catcher was able to tag the runner for the final out of the inning.
After a scoreless third for both squads, the Aggies bats came alive in the fourth with a home run to center field by Kelsey Horton breaking up the shutout. Butler added on to the New Mexico State lead with a long ball of her own to give NM State the 2-0 advantage.
The Huskies did not go away quietly and a single and a double in the fifth scored Washington's first run of the game while also cutting New Mexico State's lead in half. Rodolph made adjustments in the circle following the play, bringing in Samaria Diaz to relieve the freshman. A single and an error on the next play scored another run to tie the game.
A pitching battle arose between Diaz and Washington pitcher Gabbie Plain as each pitcher completed scoreless inning after scoreless inning, forcing the game to go to extra innings. With the international tie-breaker in play, each team started with a runner on second and yet, neither team was able to bring in a run until the bottom of the tenth when Diaz gave up a single up the middle to Sis Bates. The hit scored the game-winning run for the Huskies and handed NM State the heartbreaking loss.
Diaz moves to 1-5 this season as the sophomore recorded six strikeouts in her 5.1 innings of work and allowed just one run on three hits. De La Roca pitched 4.0 innings for NM State, allowing two runs on seven hits.
The 2-0 lead for the Aggies tied Washington's second largest deficit this season. The previous time the squad had trailed was against the Aggies of Texas A&M when the TAMU squad was ranked sixth in the nation. The Huskies ace Taran Alvelo had previously given up just a single long ball before the solo shots by Horton and Butler.
GAME TWO
Kayla Green started the contest against UNLV (16-7) and the junior struggled from the start as a single and a double by the Rebels gave the opposition an early one-run lead. A pair of singles and an error followed and at the end of the first frame, the Aggie squad trailed 3-0.
In the following inning, the New Mexico State pitcher gave up a one out single and head coach Rodolph brought in De La Roca to replace the Green in the circle. The freshman closed out the inning without allowing a run, but NM State continued to trail UNLV.
Horton broke up the shutout in the top of the fourth as the junior hit her second homer of the day out over the left field fence. New Mexico State's momentum at the plate continued in the following inning and following a hit batter and a fielder's choice, Rachel Rodriguez hit an RBI single to cut the deficit to just one run.
Trailing 3-2, the Aggies struggled in the bottom of the fifth when De La Roca gave up a leadoff single to the Rebels. Diaz came in to relive the freshman and looked to hold UNLV scoreless. After giving up a walk, the sophomore allowed a double, putting the Rebels ahead 5-2.
Despite Diaz and Mikayla Bongi pitching a scoreless sixth inning, the Aggies were unable to overcome the three-run deficit and fell to the Rebels 5-2. Green moved to 7-6 with the loss. The junior pitched 1.1 innings, allowing three runs on five hits in 10 batters faced.
For their next set of contests, the Aggies return home to host Minnesota in a three-game series. NM State opens the series with the Golden Gophers at the NM State Softball Complex on Friday, March 16, at 6 p.m. MT.
