LAS CRUCES, N.M. – Day one of the Troy Cox Classic is officially in the books. NM State closed out the opening day of the tournament with a come from behind victory over Creighton after being no-hit in their Friday opener to Nebraska.
 
Sarah Harness was dealing for the Corn Huskers in the circle today. The right hander managed to throw the 40^th no hitter in Nebraska's school history, and their first since 2016. The Aggies were last no hit on February 23, 2019 in a five inning loss to Missouri.
 
Despite the lack of offensive production in game one, the Aggies were able to rebound in game two of the double header with an eight-run comeback victory over the Blue Jays after being down 6-0 as early as the second inning.
 
Kristen Boyd was huge in the Aggies comeback efforts driving in five runs on two extra base hits, including a two-run home run in the fifth. Riley Carley also nabbed a pair of hits while also coming around to score twice. Jordin King, Laurali Patane and Aydenne Brown all saw action in the circle for the Aggies with Brown allowing just one run in 5.1 innings of work to finish off the win in game two.
 
GAME ONE | Nebraska 5, NM State 0
 
Third Inning
After three innings of scoreless softball, the Huskers were finally able to break the stalemate after a leadoff solo homerun by Brooke Andrews, giving Nebraska a 1-0 lead.  Aydenne Brown was able to escape the inning without allowing another run but did allow two hits in the inning, including the homerun.
 
The bottom of the order wasn't successful in producing any offense for the Aggies, going three-up, three-down for the third straight inning.
 
Fifth Inning
The fifth inning began with the first two Huskers reaching base safely – one by hit and one via the walk. Nebraska freshman Kaetlyn Caneda was next into the box next and sent a screaming line drive off her bat and over the left-center wall for a three-run home run, extending the Nebraska lead to four runs.  
 
The Aggies were still looking to get their first baserunner of the game, but Sarah Harness brought her a-game to Las Cruces, keeping the Aggies offense in check for yet another inning.
 
Sixth Inning
Nebraska added some insurance in the top of the sixth after a single and a walk allowed Abby Squier to drive in another run with a single up the middle making the score 5-0 Nebraska.
 
Sarah Harness silenced the Aggies bats for another inning and now just need three outs to secure a perfect game.  
 
Seventh
After the Huskers went scoreless in the top of the seventh, the Aggies were up to bat and were still looking to get their first baserunner of the game. Down to their final strike, Kayla Bowen sent a dribbler to the second baseman who couldn't field the ball cleanly, allowing Bowen to reach first on a fielding error and breaking up Harness's bid at perfection.
 
GAME TWO | Creighton 7, NM State 8
 
Second Inning
After scoring two runs in the second, the Bluejays tacked four more runs on the Aggies to take an early 6-0 lead. Alyssa Gappa started the inning with a leadoff homerun to right-center field, ultimately forcing Jordin King out of the circle and bringing Laurali Patane in to pitch for the Aggies. After loading the bases and allowing two more runs to come across, Kathy Rodolph was forced to go to her bullpen again, this time she went with Aydenne Brown hoping the former Juco All-American could help her team out of the jam. Brown was able to limit the damage but did allow a run to come across after a wild pitch.  
 
The Aggies answered right back in the bottom half of the inning with three runs of their own. Leading off the inning for the Aggies was Hannah Lindsay who rifled a ball over the left field wall for her second homerun of the season. After Riley Carley reached with a one out single up the middle, Kristen Boyd stepped into the box next and drilled another ball over the fence for a two-run home run – her second on the season.
 
Fifth Inning
Another solo shot by the Blue Jays extended their lead to back to three after the Aggies were able to bring it to within two in the third with a sac-fly off the bat of Kaylin Jackson.
 
Jackson returned to the plate in the bottom of the fifth with a pair of runners on and one out. She sent lined a ball into the right center gap for a single, driving in Kayla Bowen from second base in the process. Riley Carley reach base safely with a single to the shortstop loading the bases for Kristen Boyd with still one out in the inning. Boyd sent a ball down for a double – her second extra base hit of the ball-game – bringing Xophia Venegas and Kaylin Jackson to the plate, giving the Aggies four runs in the inning and their first lead of the ballgame.
 
Seventh Inning
Aydenne Brown returned to the circle for the Aggies after only allowing one run over her previous 4.1 innings of work, needing just three outs to seal a victory. Brown retired the side to complete the come from behind victory for the Aggies as they take game two on opening day of the Troy Cox Classic, 8-7.
 
Up Next
Day two of the Troy Cox Classic continues Saturday with five more games scheduled to be played. The Aggies will play another double-header starting with #4 Oklahoma State at 11:30 a.m. followed by an I-25 matchup with New Mexico at 2 p.m.