TEMPE, ARIZ. – New Mexico State softball fell in both games of a doubleheader at No. 21 Arizona State on Wednesday. NM State was defeated by ASU 5-2 and 7-3. The Aggies fall to 10-16 while the Sun Devils move to 21-8.
Game One
NM State took a 1-0 lead in the first. Haley Nakamura and Caity Szczesny reached with back-to-back singles. After advancing to third, Nakamura came home after on an ASU passed ball to give New Mexico State the early 1-0 lead.
The lead didn't last as Arizona State hit a home run off Samaria Diaz in the bottom of the second to tie the game.
The Aggies regained the lead in the top of the fifth. With Victoria Castro on second, Nakamura hit a single up the middle to score Castro and give NM State the 2-1 lead.
The Sun Devils put up two runs in the fifth and two runs in the sixth to take the 5-2 lead over NM State,
The deficit was too much to overcome for New Mexico State as the Aggies fell to ASU 5-2 in the first game of the doubleheader.
Game Two
New Mexico State fell behind early as the Sun Devils took a 1-0 lead in the second inning.
The Aggies fired back as they put up two runs in the third. Haley Nakamura led the inning with a double. Caity Szczesny singled, advancing the senior to third base as Fahren Glackin came to the plate. Glackin hit a single to drive in Nakamura for the first run of the inning. Victoria Castro walked to load the bases, as Merina Ili came to the plate. A passed ball during Ili's at-bat advanced the runners, scoring the second run for NM State.
The lead didn't hold as ASU hit two homers to score three runs in the bottom of the inning to give the Sun Devils the 4-2 advantage.
The Aggies clawed back as NM State put up a run in the fourth. Rachel Rodriguez hit a singled and advanced to third on a Sun Devil throwing error. Nakamura was able to bring Rodriguez home and put the Aggies within one run of ASU.
In the fifth inning, Arizona State hit a two-run homer, ASU added a run in the sixth for the final 7-3 score.
Samaria Diaz pitched a complete game to open the doubleheader. It was the freshman's second complete game this season as she gave up five runs on five hits and struck out four. Diaz moves to 4-7 this season with the loss.
Green earned the loss in the second game of the doubleheader. The sophomore pitched 4.2 innings, giving up six runs on six hits and struck out one. Green falls to 6-9 with the loss.
New Mexico State is back in action on Tuesday, March 28, as the Aggies travel to take on I-10 rival UTEP. First pitch of the doubleheader is scheduled for 4 p.m.
