SEATTLE, Wash. - The NM State softball team bounced back from its first round loss with a 6-2 victory over Grand Canyon Friday afternoon in an elimination game at the WAC Tournament in Seattle, Wash. 

The Aggies wasted no time making its offensive presence know as they used some disciplined plate appearances to load the bases with two walks from Matalasi Faapito and Ramsay Lopez. Nikki Butler broke her single-season school record for hit-by-pitches to load the bases. Kayla Bowen reached on an error to push a run across. Grand Canyon would answer with a run of its own, but the Aggies responded again in the second inning thanks to a RBI single from Hailey Tanori. The Antelopes answered once again in the bottom of the third to tie the game, but a single from Faapito and a solo home run from Butler extended the Aggies' lead to two in the top of the fourth. Lopez crushed a ball to deep center field in the sixth inning to extend the Aggies' lead to four. 

Chloe Rivas was phenomenal in the circle as she retired nine straight batters in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings to keep the Aggies distanced from the Antelopes. She threw her fourth complete game of the season and allowed just one earned run while striking out two. Tanori and Hope Banales each picked up two hits for the Aggies. Lopez led the way with two RBIs while Tanori, Faapito and Butler each picked up an RBI.

The will look to make its 10th consecutive WAC Championship Game tonight at 8 p.m. The Aggies will face the loser of Seattle U and Utah Valley. The game will be streamed live on ESPN+. Check back to nmstatesports.com or follow the Aggies on Twitter (@NMStateSoftball), Instagram (@nmstatesoftball) and Facebook (NM State Softball) for updates throughout the WAC Tournament. 

Postgame Notes

• The Aggies improved to 20-7 when they score first.
• The Aggies improved to 18-1 when they lead after the fourth inning. The Aggies held a 4-2 lead at the conclusion of the fourth inning and extended it to 6-2 in the sixth inning. 
• The Aggies have never lost to Grand Canyon in the WAC Tournament. They are 5-0 against the Antelopes. 
• Nikki Butler was hit for the 19th time this season. This broke her own record which she set in 2019 when she was hit 18 times. 
• Chloe Rivas improved to 8-1 this season in the circle. Rivas has not lost in the circle since Mar. 26 against Seattle U.