Written by: NMSU Athletic Dept.
LAS CRUCES, N.M. - Freshmen first baseman Hoku Nohara, third baseman Ashley Maroda and junior designated player Stacey Lien all nailed home runs, but it was not enough as the New Mexico State softball team fell 7-6 to I-25 rival New Mexico, Tuesday, April 8th at the NMSU Softball Complex in Las Cruces, N.M.
NMSU led the way 4-3 going into the sixth until the Lobos lit it up with a four run inning, taking the lead 7-4. The Aggies scored one more time in the bottom of the sixth and then again in the seventh, but could not overcome the deficit and fell 7-6 to their I-25 rival.
Leading the way in the box for NMSU was Maroda (San Bernardino, Calif.) who hit a perfect 3-for-3 performance on the night. She also scored two runs and had an RBI. Freshmen catcher Brittany Clifton (Simi Valley, Calif.) and Kandis Jones (La Mirada, Calif.) both were 2-for-4 at the dish, while Clifton added an RBI and Jones scored a run.
Head coach Kathy Rodolph said that she was pleased with the 11 hits from the Aggies' bats. She also added that the home runs were great, including Nohara's bomb that flew into the baseball field.
"I feel like our hitters are doing fine," Rodolph said. "The thing that is hurting us right now is how many runs we are giving up in the circle." "Kim is outta sync right now and that hurts us. I think Samantha and Kristen kept us in the ball game, but it would help to have Kim back and at 100%."
Junior right-handed pitcher Samantha Dillard (Phoenix, Ariz.) started the game and had a team-high four strikeouts on the night. She gave up five hits and two runs in three innings of work.
Junior right-handed pitcher Kim Watson (Spokane, Wash.) came in to pitch the next 2.2 innings. Watson gave up five hits on five runs and sat two Lobos down. She records the loss on the night, which drops her overall record to 13-14 on the season.
Freshman right-hander Kristen Marris (The Colony, Texas) wrapped up the final 1.1 innings. She gave up a single hit and recorded a strikeout.
UNM's Kelly Ninemire started the game and earned the save on the night. She gave up six Aggie hits and four runs, while only recording a single strikeout. Madelyn Machac fanned six and gave up five hits and two runs. She records the win in her 3.2 innings of work.
NMSU came out strong, scoring two runs in back-to-back innings. Freshman third baseman Ashley Maroda started the offensive rally with a solid single to right and advanced to second after junior left fielder Kristi Randall reached on Lobo error.
Senior right fielder Colleen Kimbro smacked one up the left line and loaded the bases, with the heart of the line up to follow.
Freshman first baseman Hoku flied out to centerfield, however earned an RBI after sending Maroda home. The Aggies scored their second run of the second inning from a freshman catcher Brittany Clifton bunt. The Aggies took the first lead of the game, 2-0.
In the bottom of the third Jones singled to left and Herrera put down a sacrifice bunt that advanced Jones to second. Then Lien hit a homer over the center filed fence and the Aggies ended the innings with a 4-0 lead.
The Lobos howled back in the top of the third with three runs of their own, cutting the lead to one, 4-3. Tianna George hit a homer that scored two runs.
UNM struck again in the top of the sixth which allowed them to stride into the lead, 7-4.
In the bottom of the sixth, the Aggies began to chip away at the score as they added a single and then recorded another run in the final inning. But with bases loaded and two outs, NMSU could not capitalize on the opportunity.
The Aggies record slips to 19-27 on the season and remains at 3-6 in WAC play. The Lobos record increases to 18-14 on the season and 2-2 in the Mountain West Conference.
NMSU is back in action, Friday, April 11, as they travel to Logan, Utah to take on Utah State in a three-game conference series. The first game is set for 3:00 p.m.
