TEMPE, Ariz. – New Mexico State softball took on No. 25 Michigan and No. 16 Arizona State at the ASU Invitational from Farrington Stadium on Friday. The Aggies dropped both games, falling to the Wolverines 3-0 and the Sun Devils 17-1 in five innings.
GAME ONE
NM State (9-9) struggled in the first when starting pitcher Analise De La Roca allowed a leadoff homer to UM (12-9) to start the contest. Despite a scoreless second, the sophomore struck trouble again in the third when she allowed a leadoff double. A groundout and a sacrifice fly brought the runner home for Michigan, putting New Mexico State behind by a pair.
After a scoreless bottom of the frame for the team, De La Roca entered the circle and gave up a walk to the first batter she faced. Head coach Kathy Rodolph made a pitching change, putting Kayla Green into the game. The senior allowed a double, bringing in the third run for the Wolverines, but struckout the final UM player that inning.
In the bottom of the fifth, the Aggies looked to rally when Chloe Rivas started the frame with a double to right center. However, the momentum was short lived as a double play closed out the squad's at-bat.
Both teams posted a shutout sixth but trailing by three in the seventh, NM State tried to make a comeback. The Aggies went down in order, securing the 3-0 loss to the ranked Wolverines.
De La Roca picked up the loss, pitching 3.0 innings and allowing three runs on four hits. Green went 4.0 innings, giving up five hits and striking out three during the outing.
GAME TWO
Looking to rebound in their second contest of the tournament, the Aggies got off to a hot start with Victoria Castro hit a double to centerfield. With two outs on the board, Nikki Butler came away with a double to left, bringing the senior home from second and giving the Aggies the early lead.
However, the advantage was short lived as the leadoff batter for ASU (17-6) hit a homer off of starting pitcher Samaria Diaz, tying the game 1-1. The junior allowed a pair of walks in the frame and a two-out homer followed, putting NM State behind 4-1 following the opening frame.
New Mexico State faced trouble again in the second when an error and a double put a pair of Arizona State runners into scoring position with just one out recorded. Rodolph once again went to Green as first in relief and despite getting the second out in the frame, she allowed a home run over the right center fence.
Trailing 7-1 in the third, Green allowed a pair of walks while also hitting a batter before a triple to left center field cleared the bases. An error by the squad followed, scoring the fourth Sun Devil run of the inning and a pair of singles scored two more for the opposition.
In the following inning, ASU posted three runs to extend the deficit for NM State. Rodolph went to Rivas to contain the Sun Devil offense. The freshman allowed a double to her first batter faced and walked the next two. A fielder's choice brought in a run for Arizona State but Rivas got the final batter swinging to end the at-bat.
Down 17-1, New Mexico State looked to rally with the top of the order coming to the plate. Castro reached on an infield single but a fielder's choice put up the second out of the frame.  Butler hit a fly out to right to end the at bat, handing the team its second loss of the day.
Diaz pitched 1.1 innings in the loss, allowing six runs on three hits while striking out two. Green went 2.0 innings in relief, giving up 10 runs on eight hits and striking out a batter. Rivas came away with 0.2 innings pitched, conceding one run and one hit while also recording a strikeout.
NM State looks to snap its six-game losing streak when the squad continues its run at the ASU Invitational with games against No. 21 James Madison and South Dakota on Saturday. The Aggies take on the Dukes at 11:30 a.m. and the Coyotes at 4:30 p.m. MT
