LAS  CRUCES, N.M. – New Mexico State softball opened a weekend series with Minnesota at the NM State Softball Complex on Friday night. The Aggies defeated the Gophers 3-0 as Samaria Diaz and Analise De La Roca pitched a combined shutout in the victory.
"Analise did a phenomenal job staying within herself and keeping us in the ball game," head coach Kathy Rodolph said. "Kennedy Johnson has worked so hard to be able to come through offensively for us and she did that in a big way tonight. We know that we need to be on our A-game tomorrow because Minnesota is going to regroup and come out battling."
After a scoreless first frame for both squads, NM State's (12-12) bats came alive in the second when Victoria Castro got the inning started with a leadoff single. Caity Szczesny followed by hitting into a fielder's choice for the first out of the inning but a double by Glackin put both runners into scoring position. After the Sarai Mejia posted the second out with a groundout to first, Rodolph looked to Kennedy Johnson to pinch hit for Jeanelle Medina. The junior did not disappoint and a clutch double cleared the bases and gave New Mexico State the 2-0 advantage.
In the top of the third, Diaz hit trouble in the circle for NM State after a walk and a hit batter put runners on for the opposition with just one out recorded. Rodolph went to her bullpen, bringing in De La Roca to relieve the sophomore. Following an error that resulted in Minnesota (15-11) loading the bases, a double play by the Aggies ended the inning and kept the Gophers scoreless.
The offense again came alive for NM State in the bottom fifth after a walk by Rachel Rodriguez and a single by Amy Bergeson put runners on first and second without an out on the board. Nikki Butler brought Rodriguez home with a shallow single on the left field line, extending the 3-0 lead.
Following a scoreless frame by both teams, Minnesota looked to even the score with just three outs remaining. A single and a hit batter with no outs began a rally for the Gophers but De La Roca and the New Mexico State defense held their ground, forcing Minnesota to hit into a fielder's choice for the first out of the inning. The second out came as a lineout to Bergeson in left field and a groundout to Glackin at first base sealed the shutout victory for the Aggies.
De La Roca moves to 4-1 with the victory. She pitched 4.2 innings, allowing five hits and striking out a single Gopher batter. Diaz went 2.1 innings, allowing two hits and two walks while also striking out a pair of batters.
New Mexico State continues the series with the Golden Gophers on Saturday, March 17, when the team hosts Minnesota in a doubleheader beginning at 4 p.m. MT.
