NM State softball swept in double-header against visiting Seattle U

LAS CRUCES, N.M. - NM State softball was back Saturday against Seattle U for games two and three of the three-game series. The Aggies took game one of the series Friday night when Jordan King pitched a complete game helping the Aggies to an 8-1 victory. Friday's game marked win number 749 for long-time head coach Kathy Roldolph.

The Aggies lost both games of Saturday's double-header, losing 7-3 in the first game and 8-0 in the nightcap.
 
 GAME ONE
 
FIRST INNING
The Redhawks got to business early getting their first two hitters on base and later advancing them into scoring position. Patane was able to escape the Jam after striking out back-to-back hitters looking to keep the Redhawks off the board. 
 
Ramsay Lopez got the Aggie bats started by hitting a leadoff single up the middle of the infield. Julian Taylor then moved her over to second base with a sacrifice bunt giving the Aggies a runner in scoring position with one out. A wild pitch allowed Lopez to reach third base. Two batters later, Maya Martinez drew out a two-out walk setting up runners on the corners. Riley Carley, who hit a homer last night was set up to do some more damage, but she ended up popping up to the catcher behind the plate to finish the inning.
 
SECOND INNING
The Aggie bats were back to the plate after a clean one-two-three inning by Laurali Patane. Paige Knight and Madison Muxen led off the inning with back-to-back walks. They later advanced into scoring position by a wild pitch. Another wild pitch scored Knight from third and advanced Muxen to third. That would be the only run to score for the Aggies as they took the early 1-0 lead. 
 
FOURTH INNING
Headed into the top of the fourth, Patane had retired six straight batters. She looked to continue the trend by retiring three more, which is exactly what she did making it 12 straight batters retired. 
 
Paige Knight led off the bottom of the inning once again, and just like she did in the second inning, she reached base via the walk. Gabby Aragon come into the game to pinch hit for knight and later advanced to second on a sac-bunt by Madison Muxen. With a runner in scoring position, the Aggies failed to mount a hit and left the runner stranded, but still led the game 1-0. 
 
FIFTH INNING
Patane returned for her fifth inning of work after retiring the previous 12 batters. She sat down leadoff hitter to make it 13 consecutive batters retired, but the second Redhawk batter of the inning was able to single up the middle ending the streak. After the single, the following batter proceeded to hit a soft ground ball straight to Patane who tried to get the lead runner out at second safely, but an errant throw by Patane allowed the runner to reach safely, setting up the Redhawks with two runners on base and one out. The very next batter singled to load the bases which brought out Kathy Rodolph for the first mound visit of the day. Whatever was said seemed to work, because the next batter lined out to center and the runner on second was doubled up trying to get back to the bag ending the inning without any damage. Aggies still led the game 1-0. 
 
In the bottom, the pitching duel continued as the Aggies were sat down in order. 
 
SIXTH INNING
Patane was back in the circle for the sixth. The Redhawks were able to load the bases on Patane for the second consecutive inning after two singles by the two and four-hole hitters, and a walk by the five-hole hitter. The next batter then proceeded to double to left-center driving in two runners in the process, giving the Redhawks their first lead of the series. A sac-fly allowed another run to score giving Seattle a two-run advantage but gave the Aggies the second out of the inning. However, the Redhawks were not done adding as another run would score after a single through the right side. A strikeout would eventually get Patane out of the inning, but not after the Redhawks took the 4-1 lead.
 
The Aggies would go down in order for the second straight inning, meaning they were going to have to hold the Redhawks for another inning, then score four in the bottom to walk away with a victory. 
 
SEVENTH INNING
Patane was out to pitch for the seventh, but after the first two batters reached by single, Kathy Rodolph was out of the dugout to make the switch to Felicia De La Torre. The first batter for Del La Torre reached by walk loading the bases for the Redhawks once again, and still no outs. After a flout to the right fielder, the five-hole hitter singles through the right side driving in the fifth run for the Redhawks. The next hitter hit a hard line ground ball to the shortstop Jayleen Burton that was too tough to handle and drove in the second run of the inning making the score 5-1. The bleeding would not stop there as the Redhawks scored two more runs, on two hits extending the Redhawk lead to six. 
 
Down six runs, the Aggies looked to mount a last-minute rally with the hopes of sending the game to extra-inning at the very least. Kristen Boyd got on base with a one-out walk. Later in the inning, Hannah Lindsay would come on to pinch-hit for Burton. Lindsay then sent a ball over the left-center wall to shorten the deficit to four. However, these would be the only runs of the inning. The Redhawks would win game one by a final score of 7-3. 
 
 
GAME TWO
 
Jordin King got the start for the second straight night after going seven innings on Friday night, only allowing one run (unearned) and struck out seven, setting a career-high for the young freshman. 
 
SECOND INNING
After a scoreless first, the Redhawks were off to a hot start in the second getting back-to-back one-out singles to start the inning. But a strikeout and a very convenient 1-5-3 double play got King out of the inning. 
 
The Aggie bats went down in order in the bottom of the inning leaving the score at 0-0.
 
THIRD INNING 
In the third, the Redhawks were able to get two runners into scoring position after King hit the first batter in the leg and then gave up a single to the next batter. Both runners were able to advance into scoring position after a sac-bunt pushed them over. Back-to-back ground ball outs by the Redhawks then allowed those two runs to score putting Seattle on the board first, 2-0. The next batter then hit a hard ground ball up the middle that was too much for Maya Martinez to handle, scoring the third and last run of the inning for the Redhawks. The score was now 3-0.
 
FOURTH INNING 
The Redhawks were able to load the bases on King to start the fourth after a double by the nine-hole hitter, and two walks were issued later in the inning. King was able to escape the jam however recording a flyout, strikeout and another flout to leave the Redhawks scoreless. 
 
Jillian Taylor led off the inning for the Aggies in the fourth. She reached bases after an eight-pitch walk. Paige Knight then hit a hard single up the middle putting two runners on for the Aggies with one out. The Redhawks would get the second out of the inning by throwing out Taylor at third on a fielder's choice. Riley Carley then hit a hard ground ball to the left side that would have gone through and probably scored the Aggies' first run of the game, but the ball ended up hitting Hannah Lindsay who was running at first. Lindsay was called out and that ended the inning. The score remained 3-0. 
 
FIFTH INNING
The Aggies made a pitching change to start the fifth. Felicia De La Torre was back in the game after reliving Laurali Patane in game one. Jordin King's final pitching line was four innings pitched, three runs, eight hits, and two strikeouts. De La Torre was able to escape the inning without any runs crossing the plate. 
 
Kayla Bowen led off the bottom of the inning by hitting a pop-up to the second baseman who dropped the ball, allowing Bowen to reach first safely. Bowen later stole second base putting the Aggies in scoring position with two outs. Ramsay Lopez then hit a slow dribbler to the third baseline and was able to beat out the throw at first and advance Bowen to third putting runners at the corners. Taylor followed by hitting her own slow roller down the third-base line and reached first on a fielder's choice. The pitcher tried to make a play on Bowen, who was standing on third and thought about going for home, but quickly changed her mind and was able to barely get back to the bag before the Seattle third baseman could make the tag. The Bases were now loaded with two outs for the Aggies, but in the end, no runs came across and the Aggies remained scoreless through five trailing 3-0. 
 
SIXTH INNING
Felicia De La Torre was back to pitch for the sixth and after getting the leadoff hitter to ground out, she gave up back-to-back singles putting two on with one out. Their three-hole hitter, Carley Nance then hit a deep fly ball to center that carried over the fence for a three-run home run. Two batter later their six hole hitter proceeded to hit a two run home run breaking the score open. The Redhawks now led 8-0, which would ultimately be the final score.