SEATTLE – New Mexico State softball opened Western Athletic Conference play with a doubleheader against Seattle U at Logan Field on Friday. The Aggies split the doubleheader with the Redhawks, picking up the 4-0 win before falling 2-1 in 10 innings..
GAME ONE
NM State's (15-13) Samaria Diaz and SU's (23-12) Carley Nance were engaged in a pitching duel from the start with each pitcher throwing four scoreless frames.
In the fifth, Chloe Rivas and Kelsey Horton walked, putting a pair of runners on with only one out recorded. Kayla Bowen delivered a single up the middle, ending the stalemate and giving the Crimson and White the one run lead. With runners on the corners, Victoria Castro added to the New Mexico State advantage when a sacrifice fly scored Horton from third.
After a scoreless sixth, Horton started a rally with a two-out walk in the seventh. Bowen hit a ball off the pitcher and after the first baseman made a pair of errors, Horton and Bowen came around to score, doubling the Aggie lead.
Heading to the bottom of the seventh with the 4-0 advantage, Diaz had not allowed a hit to Seattle U and the junior needed just three outs to complete the no hitter. The pitcher struckout out a pair to start the frame but she surrendered a single for SU's first hit. Despite the hit, Diaz forced the final batter to ground out, securing the 4-0 victory for the New Mexico State squad.
Diaz pitched a complete game, allowing just one hit while striking out a career-high 13 batters. She also moved to 5-6 with the victory.
GAME TWO
In the second contest of the day, the Aggies looked to keep their momentum going but starting pitcher Analise De La Roca surrendered three-straight singles, allowing Seattle U to score its first run of the day.
Despite the slow start, De La Roca settled in the circle and the pitcher battled with Andie Larkins of Seattle U with each pitcher posting scoreless frames.
In the top of the sixth, Jeanelle Medina became an offensive spark when she recorded a leadoff double to right center. After a sacrifice bunt by Kennedy Johnson advanced the runner to third, Casie Roberto came through with a clutch single to right field, tying the game.
The Crimson and White had a chance to take the lead in the following frame when a pair of singles and a hit batter loaded the bases with two outs on the board. However, a strikeout ended the at-bat, leaving the game in a stalemate heading to the bottom of the seventh.
De La Roca returned for the inning and the sophomore retired a pair of batters before allowing a single up the middle. Unfazed, the pitcher struckout the next batter to end the inning and send the game to extra innings.
The sophomore continued to battle against the Seattle U batters and in the ninth, the Redhawks loaded the bases with two outs recorded. De La Roca got the batter to groundout, sending the game to the 10th inning.
After the Aggies went down in order in the top of the inning, De La Roca allowed a leadoff walk before a passed ball put the runner into scoring position. A single put runners on the corners before Kaylee Ree delivered the walk-off single, handing New Mexico State the 2-1 loss in extras.
Moving to 3-4 with the loss, De La Roca pitched 9.0 innings, allowing two runs on 12 hits and striking out four. New Mexico State recorded 10 hits but stranded 14 runners in the loss.
The Aggies conclude the conference series with the Redhawks on Saturday, March 30, with first pitch from the contest set for 3 p.m. MT.
