Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 LAS CRUCES, N.M. – Following a thrilling come from behind victory Friday night, the Aggies took the field at the NM State Softball Complex Saturday for a doubleheader against Utah Valley, falling 18-14 in game one and taking a 12-7 victory in game two. Hannah Lindsay was the breakout star of the day, launching three home runs over the span of two games.
 
 
GAME ONE | Utah Valley 18 NM State 14
Laurali Patane (1-5) got the starting nod for NM State, going 3.2 innings allowing six runs on seven hits with three strikeouts on the day.

Kenzi Schultz (1-0) picked up the win for Utah Valley, throwing 2.0  innings while allowing four hits and three runs.
 
FIRST INNING
A pair of leadoff singles and a hit by pitch put Laurali Patane in a bases loaded situation with one out before getting Rylee Thorpe to chase a pitch outside for her second strikeout of the day. A flyout to centerfield ended the inning, leaving Patane and the Aggies left unscathed.

Ramsay Lopez got things going with a leadoff walk, moving over to third on a double to left field by Jillian Taylor. Fresh off her late game heroics Friday night, Kayla Bowen stepped up again knocking a single through the left side, scoring Lopez and putting the Aggies on top 1-0. With Bowen and Taylor aboard, Paige Knight smashed a single to centerfield, scoring the pair and extending the NM State lead 3-0.
 
SECOND INNING
A double by Laynee Betancur started the inning before Patane recorded her third strikeout on the day, leaving Victoria Vasquez chasing air. A single and a walk loaded the bases before Kayla Bowen came into relieve Patane. A full count walk brought home a run and put Utah Valley on the board, 3-1. Patane returned to the circle for the next batter, allowing a two-run double before an outfield assist from Gabby Aragon caught the runner at home plate, recording the final out of the inning.

Ramsay Lopez battled with the Utah Valley pitcher, batting back seven foul balls before finally drawing ball four to put a runner on first. Jillian Taylor came up next, launching a deep home run to left field and putting NM State ahead 5-3.
 
THIRD INNING
The third inning was the first quiet one for both sides, the Aggies and the Wolverines going three up, three down to send us to the fourth.
 
FOURTH INNING
An RBI double by Linnah Rebolledo cut the Aggie deficit 5-4, prompting the Aggies to bring Felicia De La Torre into the game with two outs. A walk and a wild pitch brought home the tying run, before a myriad of runs and pitching changes occurred, ultimately ending with the Wolverines taking an 11-5 lead.

Following a 35-minute top of the inning, the Aggie bats went to work. Jayleen Burton hit a swinging bunt to third base, with Ramsay Lopez drawing her second walk of the game to put a pair on the basepaths. A wild pitch advanced Burton and Lopez into scoring position when Jillian Taylor collected her second hit of the game, an RBI single scoring Burton and making it an 11-6 affair. A drawn walk by Bowen chased Schultz from the game, bringing in Katie Zuniga for the first time this afternoon. Kristen Boyd came into to pinch hit for Maya Martinez, drawing a bases loaded walk to make it a 11-7 ballgame.

FIFTH INNING
Xophia Benegas entered at pitcher for the second time this season, throwing a shutout inning to keep it a four-run game.

Hannah Lindsay came into the game at catcher, blasting an opposite field shot for her second home run of the season and making it an 11-8 game.
 
SIXTH INNING
Xophia Benegas returned to the circle for the top of the sixth, starting the inning with a hit by pitch, before Olsen mashed an RBI double to right center. A second double scored a pair, putting the Wolverines up 14-8. A throwing error, an RBI double and a sac fly made it a 17-8 deficit before an RBI double put Utah Valley up 17-8. Vasquez struck out for the second time to end the inning.

Down by nine runs and in danger of being run ruled, the Aggies went to work. Kayla Bowen led off the inning with a solo shot to center field for her sixth home run of the season and second of the weekend. Back-to-back-to-back doubles by Kristen Boyd, Paige Knight, and Gabby Aragon brought home a pair of runs to make it 17-11 in favor of the Wolverines. Hannah Lindsay hit her second home run in as many at bats, scoring Aragon and cutting the Utah Valley lead down to four, 17-13.
 
SEVENTH INNING
A sac fly by Megan Gibbs put another run on the board for Utah Valley, growing their lead 18-13.

A pair of Aggie outs brought Riley Carley to the plate, who knocked a home run out to left field, her sixth of the season to bring the Utah Valley lead back down to four, 18-14. Boyd struck out to end the game. 
 
 
GAME TWO | Utah Valley 7 NM State 12
 
Jordin King (5-8) stepped into the circle to start the second game, pitching her second complete game of the weekend, going all seven innings, holding the Wolverines to seven runs and picking up five strikeouts.

FIRST INNING
A pair of leadoff singles and a hit batter loaded the bases for Mikaela Thompson, who hit a two-run double to give the Wolverines a 2-0 lead early in game two. King collected back-to-back strikeouts to end the inning.

After a back and forth battle, Jillian Taylor earned her free base, drawing a walk before stealing second to put herself in scoring position. Kayla Bowen knocked a single up the middle to drive Taylor home and put NM State on the board 2-1.

SECOND INNING
Victoria Vasquez stepped into the batter's box, launching a deep shot to the warning track. Jillian Taylor made an incredible effort chasing it to the wall, completing the miraculous catch, though it was ruled that the ball bounced off the wall and Vasquez was awarded second base. A walk put two on, when a Linnah Rebolledo double down the left field line cleared the bases ahead of her putting Utah Valley ahead 4-1. King recorded her third strikeout of the game to send it to the home half of the inning.

The Aggie bats were held in check, failing to produce a hit and sending it to the third.
 
THIRD INNING
Jordin King recorded her first shutout inning of the night, setting the stage for the Crimson & White attack.

Ramsay Lopez led the inning with a solo blast to right field, her tenth of the season and cutting the Wolverine lead 4-2. Jillian Taylor took a free base after being hit by an errant pitch, advancing on a throwing error and a pair of wild pitches to steal home and make it a one-run game, 4-3. Kayla Bowen followed up with a rocket to left field, landing at the adjacent Presley Askew Field, home of NM State baseball. Not to be outdone, Gabby Aragon hit her first home run of the season to right field to give the Aggies their first lead of game two, 5-4.
FOURTH INNING
Like the third inning of game one, the fourth inning was quiet for both teams, each failing to produce a run before heading to the fifth.
 
FIFTH INNING
A leadoff home run by Megan Gibbs tied the game at five runs a piece before Jordin King used three pitches to record three outs and end the inning.

Jillian Taylor knocked a swinging bunt to second base before stealing second to put her in scoring position. Paige Knight singled through the left side, moving Taylor over to third and putting runners on the corners with one out. Riley Carley came up to the plate, reaching safely on a fielder's choice, scoring Taylor and putting NM State in the lead once more, 6-5.
 
SIXTH INNING
 In between a pair of strikeouts for Jordin King, Karleigh Olsen drew a walk before being pinch ran for by Brynne Hilton. Hilton scored from third on a wild pitch, again tying the game 6-6.

Hannah Lindsay hit her third home run of the day, a solo shot to left field to put the Aggies up 7-6. Kristen Boyd came aboard with a double before a pinch hit RBI double by Madison Muxen scores Boyd to make it 8-6 in favor of the Aggies. Ramsay Lopez continued the NM State offensive, cranking a two-run shot to left centerfield making it a 10-6 game. Taylor drew a walk and reached base for the fourth time in game two, advancing to third on an outfield single by Bowen. With no one covering second base, Bowen easily stole second while Taylor stole home off a Utah Valley error to put the Aggies ahead 11-6. An errant throw by the Wolverines sent the ball into the outfield, leaving Bowen to easily steal home and score the last NM State run of the game and make it a 12-6 affair.

SEVENTH INNING
 In a last gasp for Utah Valley, Megan Gibbs hit a solo shot to right centerfield cutting the NM State lead down 12-7. A lineout turned double play by Kristen Boyd ended the game in spectacular fashion.
 
UP NEXT
The Aggies travel to the Lone Star State for a Tuesday night matchup with I-25 rival UTEP from Helen of Troy Softball Complex. Last time out, the Aggies dominated the Miners en route to a 19-3 victory in five innings. First pitch is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. 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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