Written by: NMSU Athletic Dept.
Also See: bleedCrimson.net Weekly Coach Rodolph Interview :: 03/04/08
LAS CRUCES, N.M. - Junior left fielder Kristi Randall, junior short stop Kristi Hanan and freshman third baseman Ashley Maroda each hit a home run as New Mexico State softball run-ruled both games against Georgetown University, 8-0 and 9-1, Wednesday, March 5, at the NMSU Softball Complex.
Leading offensively for the Aggies was Kristi Randall (Chula Vista, Calif.) who went an impressive 4-for-5 at the dish. Besides recording her fourth home run of the season, Randall also hit a triple, two doubles and scored a team-high four runs and five RBIs.
Freshman second baseman Kylie Randall (Chula Vista, Calif.) matched her sister at the plate, hitting .800, while scoring three runs and stealing a base. Freshman center fielder Kandis Jones (La Mirada, Calif.) went 3-for-7 in the box, while hitting her first colligate triple. She also added a pair of both RBIs and runs scored. Maroda (San Bernardino, Calif.) went 2-for-5 at the plate while collecting three RBIs and scoring two runs.
Head coach Kathy Rodolph said that she was excited that the squad came back and had another strong home showing.
“I am especially happy the way we came back strong and attacked right off the bat after being on our heels a bit last weekend,” Rodolph said. “I feel like we have an outstanding offense and defense. We just keep getting better with every game.”
In game one, junior right-handed pitcher Kim Watson (Spokane, Wash.) went the distance and threw 10 strikeouts against the Hoyas, while only giving up four hits. Her overall record goes to 8-7 on the season.
Junior right handed pitcher Samantha Dillard (Phoenix, Ariz.) recorded the win in game number two. Dillard had a strikeout in three innings of work and she records her first win of the season. Sophomore left handed pitcher Vanessa Fitzgerald (Cloverdale, Calif.) finished game two, while throwing for two innings before the run-rule occurred. Fitzgerald tallied a pair of strikeouts and did not allow a single hit.
During the first game, Jones put the first point on the board for the Aggie in the bottom of the first. Jones hit her first career triple to center field and then was scored from a junior designated hitter Stacey Lien (Tacoma, Wash.) who put the ball in play and got on first from a Hoyas error. The Aggies ended the first inning taking the lead, 1-0.
In the bottom of the second inning the Aggie extended their lead by three, upping the score 4-0. Hanan got on base after being hit by a pitch and Kylie Randall advanced to second from a single hit to the short stop. Kristi Randall smacked a double to left field, which scored Hanan and sent her sister to third.
Even though Lien popped up to the short stop, she still drove in Kylie Randall and earned the RBI. NMSU earned the final run of the inning due to an illegal pitch by the pitcher.
The Aggie defense remained solid behind Watson, allowing three-up-three down in the second and third innings. Watson struck out four of the six batters and the Aggie defense tallied the remaining two outs.
In the bottom of the third, Hanan hit a bomb over the left center field fence, recording her second home run of the season. She also plated sophomore right fielder Angie Ortega who got on base from a single down the right line. NMSU ended the inning 6-0.
In game two the NMSU opened the game up with a bang as Kristi Randall and Maroda both hit homers, which scored a total of five runs. NMSU ended inning number one up 5-0.
Georgetown put their first and only score of the night on the board in the top of the second from a Garcia single that scored Moffat. However, that is all the Aggies would allow and the top of the inning ended, 5-1.
The Crimson and White women added two more runs to their score in the bottom of the second, upping the score to 7-1. Leadoff batter Kristi Randall walked and freshman first baseman Hoku Nohara reached on a fielder’s choice, however Randall advanced to second on a Hoyas error. Maroda also reached first from a fielder choice but this time GU successfully tagged Nohara, but Randall moved to third.
Senior right fielder Colleen Kimbro (Midland, Texas) singled which scored Kristi Randall and advanced Maroda to third. Then Kimbro stole second, causing chaos for the Hoyas defense, which allowed Maroda to score from a Hoyas error on the throw.
The Aggies tacked on two more runs in the bottom of the third to put NMSU up by eight, 9-1. Kylie Randall started the rally off with a single to short stop and then she progressed to second from a sacrifice hit by Jones and ended up stealing third. Then junior center fielder Rishelle Gastelum reached first from a GU error and Kristi Randall walked.
With the bases loaded, Nohara was hit-by-a-pitch, forcing Kylie Randall to score. Then Maroda hit a hard one out toleft field but it was snagged, however she still recorded an RBI from plating Gastelum and forced a run rule to occur.
These wins lift the Aggies' record to 11-12 on the season and drops the Hoyas record to 6-15.
The Aggie now pack up and head to Las Vegas, Nevada, to participate in the annual UNLV Tournament. They kick the weekend off Friday, March 7, with a two game series. The first is against Southern Utah at 10:00 a.m. and the second game is against Portland State at 2:30 p.m.
All games can be followed on livestats at www.nmstatesports.com and recaps can also be found there following the conclusion of the games.
