LAS CRUCES, N.M. - After having the day off Saturday, the Aggies returned to the NM State Softball Complex on Sunday to cap the Troy Cox Classic, dropping a 6-5 decision to Northern Colorado.

Laurali Patane (0-1) took the loss for the Aggies, going 1.2 innings with four hits and two runs allowed along with two strikeouts.

Meghan Golden (2-3) was the winning pitcher for the Bears pitching 7.0 innings, allowing five runs and nine hits while recording eight strikeouts.

Jordin King got the start for NM State, allowing a single to start the game before a Riley Plogger lineout and an interference call on Northern Colorado gave the Aggies two outs in the first two batters. Following a single and hit by pitch, a Kristen Boyd error allowed a run to cross the plate for the Bears giving them an early 1-0 lead. Alyssa Wenzel hit a single up the middle, scoring the second UNC run of the inning before Paola Villegas was thrown out at home off a rocket from centerfield by Yazzy Avila.

King got through the second unscathed, picking up her first strikeout of the afternoon. In the bottom half of the inning, Riley Carley singled through the left side before Jillian Taylor came in to pinch run. The move proved successful for the Aggies when a Hailey Tanori groundout moved Taylor from first to third before a Melika Ofoia single to center field, easily scored Taylor for Ofoia's first RBI of the season, cutting the Northern Colorado lead in half, 2-1. Savannah Bejarano came in to pinch run for Ofoia but was caught stealing second to end the inning.

Felicia De La Torre came in to relive Jordin King, ending King's day with 2.0 innings pitched, allowing two runs and five hits to go along with a strikeout. In the home half of the third, Ramsay Lopez hit her third home run of the weekend, a no-doubt solo shot to left field to tie the game up at two apiece.

After a harmless top of the fourth, Hailey Tanori started the bottom of the inning with a walk, stealing second on a strikeout by Kendra Levesque and taking third on a groundout by Savannah Bejarano before a Hannah Lindsay single down the left field line scored Tanori and gave the Aggies their first lead of the game, 3-2.

Kayla Bowen started the bottom of the fifth with a double down the left field line, followed by a Paige Knight hit by pitch putting two on the basepath for NM State. Riley Carley hammered a double to left field, scoring Bowen and extending the Aggies lead 4-2. A Kristen Boyd sac fly brought home Paige Knight, before Carley was thrown out trying to advance to third, ending the inning in a 5-2 Aggie advantage.

Back-to-back singles for the Bears ended Felicia De La Torre's afternoon, finishing with a stat line of 3.1 innings pitched, allowing two runs and three hits with a strikeout. Laurali Patane came in for the home team, allowing a single before a Northern Colorado grand slam gave the Bears a 6-5 advantage that would hold steady as the final result.

The Aggies will enjoy a ten-day break from action before returning to the NM State Softball Complex Wednesday, March 2^nd for the Battle of I-10 against UTEP. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. 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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