Written by: NMSU Athletic Dept.
LAS CRUCES, N.M. - New Mexico State's (18-25, 2-5 WAC) junior leftfielder Kristi Randall and designated hitter Angie Ortega both hit home runs, but it was not enough as the Aggies could not stop the mighty bats of Louisiana Tech (20-19, 2-4 WAC) as they fell 12-4, in the first game of the series, Friday evening at the NMSU Softball Complex.
Head coach Kathy Rodolph said that she was disappointed with the outcome and hopes the team can learn from the game and rebound for tomorrow.
"This is a tough loss for us, I just don't feel like we were hungry enough tonight," Rodolph said. "Hats off to La. Tech, they came out aggressive and ready to go.
La. Tech ended the night with 12 hits to the Aggies' eight and the Lady Techsters also recorded 12 RBIs, three triples and three home runs.
NMSU did smack two bombs of their own and led the way in the circle with four strikeouts.
Junior right handed pitcher Kim Watson (Spokane, Wash.) had a game-high three strikeouts in 2.2 innings of work. She gave up seven hits and 10 runs on the night.
Junior right handed pitcher Samantha Dillard (Phoenix, Ariz.) records the loss on the night and her overall record now sits at 3-8. She had a strikeout, gave up five hits and two runs during her 3.2 innings at work.
Tech's Krissi Oliver records her ninth win of the season against NMSU. She pitched five innings, gave up seven hits, three runs and had two strikeouts. Teammate Wanda Malone came into wrap up the night. Malone pitched a total of one inning and gave up a hit.
NMSU did have a relatively strong showing in the box throughout the night, but could not capitalize the way they would have wanted to on it's eight hits.
Leading the way in the box was freshmen centerfielder Kandis Jones (La Mirada, Calif.) and third baseman Ashley Maroda (San Bernardino, Calif.) who both went 2-fo-3. Jones also drove in a run, while Maroda scored a run herself.
Junior designated play Stacey Lien (Tacoma, Wash.), Ortega, and Kristi and Kylie Randall (Chula Vista, Calif.) all had hits on the night, while Oretga led the team in RBIs with two.
The Aggies put themselves in a rough spot to start out the game as the Lady Techsters put the first two runs on the board in the top of third. The score was 3-0 before the NMSU knew it.
In the top of the fifth the Tech offense lit it up again, scoring four more runs. However, Kristi Randall recorded the Aggie's first run, with a homer over the leftfield fence. Yet this was the only bit of offense the Aggies could convert and ended the inning, 7-1.
The Lady Techsters tacked on six more runs in the top of the sixth, expanding their comfortable lead, 12-1.
In the bottom of the sixth, the Aggies would go down with a fight as Ortega hit a two-run bomb deep over the center field trees, which scored Maroda who got on from a single up the middle. Then Jones hit a triple that scored Kylie Randall, but as Jones rounded third, the Lady Techsters tagged her and recorded out three, which ended the game with a run-rule decision, 12-4.
"If you want the outcome to be different, you need to make it different," Rodolph added.
The Aggies are back in action, Saturday, April 5, as they go head-to-head with La. Tech in the final two-games of the series. The first pitch is set for 1:00 p.m..
The first game on Saturday is going to be broadcasted live on TV as a part of Aggie Vision. Kyle Doperaliski will be the play-by-play analyst and redshirt catcher Ashley Roszkos will be his side kick.
Fans can also watch play-by-play action on livestats at www.nmstatesports.com and can find stats and recaps following the conclusion of the game there also.
