PHOENIX – New Mexico State softball continued its run at the Western Athletic Conference Tournament with a contest against top-seeded Seattle U at GCU Softball Stadium on Friday. The second-seeded Aggies fell to the Redhawks 8-7 during their second contest of the tournament.
 
Both teams went scoreless in the first but NM State (32-21) began a rally when Nikki Butler was hit by the pitch to start the second. Keala Brown came in to pinch run and the sophomore stole second and advanced to third on an error by SU (38-15). With Victoria Castro at the plate, the senior posted a double, scoring the Aggies first run of the day. Casie Roberto followed with a home run over the left-field fence, extending the three run lead. Kayla Bowen hit a homer of her own, giving the squad the 4-0 advantage.
 
New Mexico State went scoreless in the third but, starting pitcher Samaria Diaz struck trouble during the bottom of the frame when the junior allowed a triple to center field. A sacrifice fly scored the first run for the opposition and a single followed for Seattle U. Diaz forced the next two batters into groundouts, ending the third and sending NM State into the fourth with a three-run lead.
 
During the next inning, Diaz found herself in trouble again when she allowed a pair of singles and a walk, loading the bases with just one out on the board. A single and a sacrifice fly brought runs home for Seattle U and left the Aggies ahead by just a run.
 
In the top of the fifth, Jeanelle Medina started the inning with a single. Kelsey Horton followed the junior by launching a ball over the right-field fence, extending the 6-3 advantage.
 
Head coach Kathy Rodolph made a change in the circle during the bottom of the inning, bringing in Analise De La Roca to pitch. The sophomore made an error on the first play of the Redhawks at-bat but held Seattle U scoreless during the frame. However in the next inning, another run scored for the opposition, leaving the New Mexico State squad ahead by a pair.
 
Horton hit her second long ball of the game, a solo homer, in the top of the seventh to add an insurance run for NM State. Needing three outs to secure the victory, De La Roca recorded the first out but allowed a walk and a single to put a pair of runners on. Rodolph went to Diaz for the final two outs but the junior gave up a single to the first batter she faced before a grand slam ended the 8-7 loss for New Mexico State
 
Diaz pitched 4.0 innings in the loss, allowing five runs on seven hits with two strikeouts. De La Roca went 2.1 innings, giving up three runs on two hits while also walking two batters.
 
NM State takes on the winner of the game between third-seeded Grand Canyon and sixth-seeded CSU Bakersfield in an elimination contest at 8:30 p.m. MT on Friday.