LAS CRUCES, N.M. – The New Mexico State softball team closed out a three-game series against CSU Bakersfield at the NM State Softball Complex on Saturday. The Aggies completed the sweep by shutting out the Roadrunnners 8-0 and 5-0 to remain perfect in Western Athletic Conference play.
"We had great pitching performances by Analise, Samaria and Kayla today," head coach Kathy Rodolph said. "I think our team really defended well behind the pitchers. Kelsey also came through with a really dominant series."
GAME ONE
Analise De La Roca got the start in the circle and the freshman began strong by striking out a pair of batters in the first. NM State (21-15, 6-0 WAC) came out swinging in the bottom of the inning when Kelsey Horton hit a solo home run in her first plate appearance, giving the Aggies the early 1-0 lead.
After a scoreless frame by both teams, New Mexico State loaded the bases with just one out in the third with Fahren Glackin at the plate. A wild pitch by CSUB (5-28, 2-4 WAC) during the senior's at-bat brought in a run for the NM State squad. After Glackin walked, another wild pitch by the 'Runners, this time with Nikki Butler batting, brought in the second run of the inning. Butler kept NM State's momentum going with a double to left center, giving New Mexico State the commanding 5-0 lead. Victoria Castro brought home the final runs of the inning with a two-run long ball over the left field fence.
Holding a 7-0 lead in the fourth, the Aggies added to their advantage in the bottom of the inning when Horton hit her second solo homer of the game. Following the home run, NM State looked to close out the game in the top of the fifth and Rodolph brought in pitcher Mikayla Bongi to finish the contest. The freshman closed out the shutout, securing the team's 8-0 run-rule victory.
De La Roca improved to 7-2 with the victory as she pitched 4.0 innings, allowing just three hits while striking out four CSUB batters. Bongi went 1.0 innings and allowed just a single hit.
GAME TWO
The Aggies kept the momentum going in the second game of the doubleheader by loading the bases with a walk and a pair of hit batters in the first with no outs recorded. A single by Butler scored the first two runs of the contest, giving New Mexico State the early 2-0 advantage.
In the following inning, Stefani Duran began an NM State rally when the freshman picked up a leadoff walk. After a groundout and a passed ball helped Duran advance to third, Horton came up with a clutch double to score the third Aggie run.
New Mexico State added to its lead in the bottom of the third when a walk and a pair of hit batters loaded the bases in a hurry. The CSU Bakersfield pitcher walked the next two NM State batters, giving the Aggies the commanding 5-0 lead.
Samaria Diaz continued to pitch a solid game as the freshman threw scoreless inning after scoreless inning in her second start this of the series. However, the pitcher struggled in the sixth when she allowed a pair of singles to start the inning. Green came in to relieve Diaz in the circle and the junior struck out the first batter she faced. Despite giving up a single to load the bases for the 'Runners, Green got out of the inning without allowing a single CSUB run. The right-handed pitcher continued to dominate by pitching a scoreless seventh to give the Aggies the 5-0 victory.
Diaz improves to 3-6 this season with the win as the sophomore went 5.0 innings and allowed just six hits while striking out three CSU Bakersfield players. Green went 2.0 innings in relief, allowing one hit while striking out a pair of CSUB batters.
For their next set of contests, the Aggies hit the road to take on Grand Canyon in a weekend series. NM State faces the Lopes in a doubleheader on Friday, April 13 at 6 p.m. MT. The team closes the series on Saturday with first pitch scheduled for 6 p.m.
