TEMPE, Ariz. – The New Mexico State softball team took on No. 20 Long Beach State at Farrington Stadium on Saturday in the Tempe Regional of the NCAA Tournament. The Aggies fell 9-0 in the contest, ending the team's season.
"I tip my hat to Long Beach State," head coach Kathy Rodolph said. "They came out attacking at the beginning of the game and we had to find a way to regroup. I could not be more proud of our girls with the season that they had and the growth the team had this year."
How It Happened
Kayla Green got the start in the circle and the junior struggled from the jump when she made a throwing error that allowed her first batter faced to reach third. Three-straight singles followed, scoring the runner and Green proceeded to walk in a run, putting NM State (29-24) behind 2-0.
Rodolph went to Analise De La Roca to contain the situation but an error and a hit-batter followed and LBSU (43-13) took a 4-0 lead without an out on the board. The deficit grew for New Mexico State when a single down the right side brought in a pair of runs for Long Beach State. Two more runs came home for the Beach and before New Mexico State's first plate appearance, the team trailed 8-0.
In the bottom of the second, the Aggie offense got off to a hot start when Nikki Butler led off with a single. Victoria Castro followed with a fielder's choice and a groundout advanced Castro to second. However, NM State stranded the junior to end the inning.
After a pair of scoreless innings for De La Roca, Rodolph brought in Samaria Diaz to relieve the freshman in the fourth. Despite allowing a double in the frame, the sophomore pitcher completed a scoreless inning for New Mexico State.
The Aggies looked to rally again in the bottom of the frame when Kelsey Horton hit an infield single to start the at-bat. However, three-straight outs followed and the squad was held scoreless yet again.
In the circle, Diaz struck trouble when she hit an LBSU player, who advanced to second following a wild pitch. With two outs recorded, the sophomore looked to escape unscathed but a double out to centerfield by the Beach scored Long Beach State's ninth unanswered run.
In jeopardy of being run-ruled in the fifth, NM State looked to extend the game, beginning with a single by Amy Bergeson. Shelby Shultes hit a one-out single to left field and fielder's choice put runners on the corners with two outs. However, the Aggies' rally fell short when a strikeout closed out the 9-0 loss.
Green moved to 14-9 with the loss as she allowed five runs on three hits. De La Roca went 3.1 innings and gave up three runs on three hits while striking out a single batter. Diaz pitched the final 1.2 innings, allowing one run on two hits.
NM State's historic season comes to a close in Tempe, Ariz. The Aggies end the season with as the Western Athletic Conference regular-season champions for a fourth-straight year and the tournament title holders for a second-straight season.
Horton closed out her junior campaign with 25 home runs and 152 total bases, a New Mexico State single season record. Her .911 slugging percentage ranks second for a single season at NM State. Senior Rachel Rodriguez ends her career as an Aggies second in career hits (241) triples (11), stolen bases (83), and stolen base attempts (92).
