LAS CRUCES, N.M. – The New Mexico State softball team opened its final Western Athletic Conference series with a contest against Seattle U on Friday night. Kelsey Horton hit a home run in the game but it was not enough as the Aggies fell to the Redhawks 7-4.
Kayla Green earned the start in the circle but after pitching a pair of scoreless innings, the junior hit trouble when SU's (32-19, 10-3 WAC) Madison Cathcart recorded a two-run homer to give the Redhawks a 2-0 advantage.
In the bottom of the fourth, Horton cut the deficit in half when the junior launched her team-best 19th home run over the centerfield fence. Fahren Glackin and Nikki Butler followed with back-to-back doubles, tying the contest for NM State (24-21, 9-4 WAC).
Green struggled in the following frame when an error and a pair of walks loaded the bases in a hurry. A triple by Kaylee Ree cleared the bases and an error by the Aggies added to the Seattle U lead.
Trailing 6-2, New Mexico State posted three-straight singles in the bottom of the fifth to load the bases with one out recorded. Glackin followed with a deep sacrifice fly, scoring Caity Szczesny from third. Butler continued the rally with a single to score Rodriguez but Horton was out at home on the play, ending the inning.
After a scoreless sixth for both teams, Green gave up another run to SU, putting the Aggies behind 7-4. Following the score, Samaria Diaz came in to relieve the junior and the ended the top of the frame with a strikeout.
New Mexico State looked for a final rally when Rodriguez reach on an infield single with one out in the seventh. However, a fly out and a ground out ended the contest, dealing NM State its fourth conference loss.
Green falls to 13-8 on the season as she went 6.2 innings and allowed seven runs on nine hits while also striking out four batters. Diaz faced a single batter and tallied a strikeout in her appurtenance.
The Aggies close out the series against Seattle U with a doubleheader on Saturday, April 28 with first pitch scheduled for 4 p.m. MT. Following the series finale, the team is set to honor its three seniors in a special ceremony.
