LAS CRUCES, N.M. - The Aggies returned to action at the NM State Softball Complex, using their best offensive performance of the season to take down UT Arlington 12-7 in the final game of day two at the Troy Cox Classic.  
 
Jordin King (1-1) started in the circle for NM State, collecting her first win of the season going 5.1 innings with a career-best five strikeouts.
 
Jessica Adams (1-3) took the loss for the Mavericks, going 3.0 innings giving up seven runs and seven hits with a strikeout.  
 
Yazzy Avila opened the scoring for the Aggies in the bottom of the first, advancing home on a throwing error by UT Arlington's Morgan Rios, putting the Aggies ahead 1-0. Avila had a big night offensively following her outstanding defensive game last night, going 2-3 with an RBI and three runs scored. The Mavericks matched NM State in the top half of the second off a solo home run by Meagan Smith, tying the game at one heading into the bottom of the second.
 
After a four-run third for UTA, the Aggies trailed 5-1 heading into the bottom half of the inning when a Kayla Bowen RBI double, followed by Paige Knight's first home run at NM State cut the Maverick lead to one, 5-4.
 
The Aggies exploded for seven runs in the fourth, starting off with an Avila RBI single to tie the game up at five before Kayla Bowen's two-run single to center field gave the Aggies their first lead of the game since the bottom of the first. Maya Martinez extended the Aggie lead 8-5 with an RBI single through the right side. Riley Carley hit her second home run of the season; a three-run shot to right field to put NM State up 11-5.
 
A pair of Maverick scores in the top of the fifth and sixth cut the Aggie lead to four before Kendra Levesque collected her first hit of the season with an RBI single, putting NM State up 12-7.
 
Laurali Patane came in for Jordin King with one out in the fifth, pitching 1.0 innings and recording a strikeout. Felicia De La Torre came in with one out in the top of the seventh striking out back-to-back batters to end the game.
 
The Troy Cox Classic continues Saturday at 9 a.m. when UT Arlington (2-5) faces off against Southeastern Louisiana (5-0), while the Aggies return to the NM State Softball Complex Sunday at 11:30 p.m. with a game against Northern Colorado (1-6).  For updates and exclusive content throughout the offseason, follow the Aggies on Twitter (@NMStateSoftball), Instagram (@nmstatesoftball) and like us on Facebook (NM State Softball).

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