TEMPE, AZ - NM State returned to the Alberta B. Farrington Softball Stadium for the final day of action at the Sun Devil Classic, hosted by Arizona State University. The Aggies kept it close but couldn't put it all together, falling to Rutgers 6-3.
 
Felicia De La Torre (2-8) started the game in the circle and took the loss for the Aggies, putting up a statline of 2.0 innings pitched, with two runs allowed and a strikeout.

Ashley Hitchcock (7-7) picked up the win for the Scarlet Knights, going 4.0 innings allowing one run off of three hits with three strikeouts.
 
FIRST INNING
Felicica De La Torre made it through the top of Rutgers lineup with little resistance, sitting down Maddie Lawson with her first strikeout of the day.

Ramsay Lopez continued her streak of reaching base to start the game, drawing a walk before a successful bunt by Jillian Taylor put two on for the Aggies. Kayla Bowen reached on a fielder's choice while Rutgers took Lopez off the basepaths. Riley Carley struck out to end the inning, stranding two as we went to the second.
 
SECOND INNING
Payton Lincavage hit a solo shot to left field to put the Scarlet Knights up 1-0, but Felicia De La Torre shut down the next three batters in quick succession to end the inning.

NM State threatened to score for the second straight inning, with Paige Knight hitting a leadoff single up the middle, moving over to second on a sac but by Jayleen Burton. Hailey Tanori hit a single to deep centerfield, prompting Knight to try and score, but she was thrown out at home to end the inning.
 
THIRD INNING
Megan Herka started the inning for the Scarlet Knights, taking first base on a hit by pitch before Kayla Bowen was subbed into the circle, walking a second Rutgers batter to put a pair on base. A pair of RBI singles and a fielding error by the Aggies put RU ahead 5-0.

Ramsay Lopez drew her second walk of the game, with Savannah Bejarano coming in to pinch run. Jillian Taylor came up to bat next, turning on a pitch and ripping it over the centerfield wall for her second home run of the season, putting the Aggies on the board and making it a 5-2 ballgame.
 
FOURTH INNING
Jordin King came into the circle for NM State to start the fourth, finding herself in a bases loaded jam with one out after a pair of walks and a single. King was able to escape unscathed, keep it a three-run game as the Aggies prepared to bat.

Paige Knight recorded her second hit and second single on the day with a shot to left center, with Madison Muxen coming in to pinch run and try to spark the Aggie offense. Hannah Lindsey followed up with a single of her own, putting Muxen in scoring position and two on the basepaths. Jaeleah Burrell came in to pinch run for Lindsey when Rutgers took out starting pitcher and staff ace Jaden Vickers. A third Ramsay Lopez walk loaded the bases with two outs, but the Aggies could not convert and left three stranded to end the fourth.
 
FIFTH INNING
The Scarlet Knights drew a walk to leadoff the inning, but back to back fielder's choice opportunities keep a runner on first with two outs. Jordin King froze the batter and racked up her first strikeout of the afternoon to end the top half of the inning and keep it a 5-2 ballgame.
 
SIXTH INNING
Jordin King picked up her second strikeout of the day to start the sixth, before a hit by pitch and a walk put two on the basepaths for the Scarlet Knights with two outs on the scoreboard. A fielder's choice putout at second ended the inning.

Paige Knight got the NM State offense going with a blast to deep left center for a standup double, but the batters behind her couldn't get her across home plate.

SEVENTH INNING
Gabrielle Galloway turned on a pitch by Jordin King and put it over the wall, giving Rutgers their first run since the third inning and putting them on top 6-2. Laurali Patane came into the game afterwards, ending Jordin King's day with a statline of 3.0 innings pitched allowing one run on three hits with a pair of strikeouts. A walk and a hit by pitch put two on with two outs, but an unassisted putout by Ramsay Lopez ended the inning.

The Aggies prepared to take their last gasp in the bottom of the seventh, when Maya Martinez put some major air under the ball, blasting it out to centerfield for her fifth home run of the season, making it a 6-3 game. Kayla Bowen took a pitch to the body and walked to first, before a Riley Carley single put two on the bases for the Crimson & White. Paige Knight lined out to end the rally, and ultimately the game.
 
UP NEXT
NM State will return to Las Cruces for their first home games since March 2^nd when the Aggies open conference play with a three-game series against Grand Canyon, starting Friday March 18^th at 6:00 MT. For updates and exclusive content throughout the season, follow the Aggies on Twitter (@NMStateSoftball), Instagram (@nmstatesoftball) and like us on Facebook (NM State Softball).

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