By Marshall Mecham
LAS CRUCES, N.M. — The New Mexico State softball team (21-20, 11-7 Conference USA) cruised past I-10 rival UTEP (11-27, 3-15 CUSA) for a series sweep at the NM State Softball Complex this past weekend by the scores 8-3, 3-0 and 8-0. The Aggies have now won 20 of 22 home games against the Miners.
GAME ONE
NMSU got off to a fast start in the series opener Friday, April 10, scoring in the first inning thanks to an RBI double from Lauren Garcia to take an early 1-0 lead.
However, UTEP quickly responded in the top of the second frame by capitalizing on a throwing error by Aggie catcher Kendal Lunar to bring home Marissa Burchard and Kenna Carranza and take a 2-1 advantage.
The Aggies wasted no time getting back in front, as true freshman Destan Burks hit a three-run home run in the bottom of the second to give NMSU a 4-2 lead.
After holding the Miners scoreless in the top of the third inning, the Aggies tacked on four more runs in the bottom of the frame to extend the lead to six. RBIs from Madi Bachman, Burks and pitcher Faith Aragon are what sparked this.
After three straight scoreless innings for both teams, the Miners had one last chance to make a run and pull off a miraculous comeback in the top of the seventh. They showed life, as Halle Hogan hit a solo home run but it was not enough as NMSU edged out the 8-3 victory. Aragon earned the win, as she struck out 10 players and played the entire game.
GAME TWO
After a slow start for both teams in Saturday night’s matchup, the Aggies finally got in the scoring column in the bottom of the second inning thanks to an Aragon RBI double to left center to put them ahead 1-0.
Both teams went scoreless the next two frames, but NMSU was able to create some separation in the fifth. After the defense did its job once again by holding UTEP scoreless in the top of the inning, the Aggies tacked on two runs to take a three-run lead. Burks continued her weekend surge with a solo home run and Lunar did the same in the next at-bat.
No more runs were scored in the game from this point and the Aggies were able to clinch the series. Aragon took home yet another win, throwing an impressive complete-game shutout. The former Miner allowed just three hits and struck out 10 players once again. Aragon now has a 16-7 win-loss record.
GAME THREE
The final game of the series saw the Aggies get off to another fast start, as Bachman started the afternoon with a two-run home run to give them an early 1-0 advantage in the first inning.
After both teams went scoreless in the second frame, it was the Aggies’ mission to put the game out of reach and they did just that. Burks hit a solo home run to push the advantage to three, which was followed by a Tamara Carranza two-run double to left center to extend the lead to 5-0. Later in the third, an error allowed another run to cross to make it 6-0.
The defense continued to do its job in the fourth, holding UTEP scoreless yet again. The Aggies then added a run in the bottom of the frame due to a fielder’s choice.
They then tacked on one final run of the series in the fifth to run-rule the Miners 8-0. This marked the second straight shutout for NMSU over UTEP, but it was not Aragon who earned the win this time. Taryn Bennett played the whole contest, tossing five scoreless innings and allowing just two hits. Bennett is now 3-4.
The Aggies will be back in action against Middle Tennessee (15-24, 4-14 CUSA) at 5 p.m. MT Friday, April 17, at Blue Raider Softball Field in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
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