Aggies fall short against Western Kentucky

The NM State softball team battled throughout Saturday afternoon but came up just short in a back‑and‑forth contest against Western Kentucky at the NM State Softball Complex. The Aggies answered early deficits twice and pushed across runs in four different innings, but a four‑run fifth by the Hilltoppers created separation. A late solo homer gave NMSU life, though the rally ultimately stalled in a 7–5 result. 

Western Kentucky jumped ahead with two runs in the first before the Aggies responded in the second, as Madi Bachman drove in a run with a sacrifice fly and Jade Valladares followed with an RBI single to even the score.

Bachman went 2‑for‑2 with a home run, three RBIs, and added a sacrifice fly. Kendal Lunar delivered a pinch‑hit solo home run in the seventh to spark a late push. 

After the Hilltoppers regained the lead in the fourth, NMSU countered again in the bottom half when Bachman singled home a run to tie it at three. A four‑run fifth by Western Kentucky proved decisive, but NM State chipped away late with a solo homer from Bachman in the sixth and a pinch‑hit blast from Lunar in the seventh.

Tamara Carranza collected a hit and scored once from the middle of the lineup, while Bella Clapp reached base and added a stolen base, creating early scoring opportunities. Zantelle Rodriguez closed the final 2.1 innings scoreless, allowing just one hit in relief.