Box Score LAS CRUCES, N.M. - The Aggies returned to action at the NM State Softball Complex Friday night, starting the weekend off right with some late inning magic. Kayla Bowen and Riley Carley hit back-to-back home runs in the fifth, before a two out double by Bowen to right centerfield lifted NM State to a 6-5 victory over the Utah Valley Wolverines. 
 
Jordin King (4-8) got the starting nod for NM State and pitched her second complete game of the season, going 7.0 innings allowing four earned runs on seven hits while tying her career best by racking up five strikeouts.

Katie Zuniga (5-5) took the loss for the Wolverines, throwing 4.0  innings while allowing five runs on eight hits.
 
FIRST INNING
Utah Valley came out swinging, a Madison Carr single up the middle followed by a Linnah Rebolledo walk put two on before the Aggies could record an out. A full count walk loaded the bases for a Jaeden Barajas double, with two Wolverines coming across the plate to take an early 2-0 lead. King recorded a pair of two pitch outs to end the inning.

The Aggies were unable to match the Utah Valley offensive output in the first inning, failing to produce a baserunner.
 
SECOND INNING
Jordin King recorded her first strikeout of the afternoon, getting Kyla Hardy to chase for the first out of the inning. Rebolledo hit a hard liner back to the pitcher, with King easily collecting it and completing her shutout inning.

Maya Martinez had the best opportunity to get on base for NM State in the first two innings, launching a hard hit ball deep to left field, but Rebolledo stayed with it grabbing it at the wall and robbing the Aggies of their first hit and first run of the game.
 
THIRD INNING
King recorded a pair of quick outs to put two away before Baraja's second hit of the game put one runner on, before a Megan Gibbs two run homer extended the Utah Valley lead 4-0.

Jayleen Burton reached on a fielding error, advancing to second when a Ramsay Lopez recorded the first hit of the game for the Aggies, a single through the left side. A popout by Jillian Taylor ended the inning with a pair stranded. 
 
FOURTH INNING
Jordin King recorded her second shutout inning of the game, collecting a pair of groundouts before Carr ended the inning with a lineout to left field.

As the sun set for the day, the Aggie offense was just getting started. The first five batters of the inning for NM State reached base, led by a Kayla Bowen no-doubt home run to centerfield, her fifth of the season, putting NM State on the scoreboard 4-1. Not to be outdone, Riley Carley stepped into the batter's box and launched one of her own, this time a deep shot to left field cutting the Utah Valley deficit in half, 4-2. Maya Martinez knocked a double to right center before Madison Muxen reached safely on the second Wolverine error of the night. Hannah Lindsay loaded the bases with a single to third, before an Aragon lineout and a pair of strikeouts ending the Aggies offensive attack.
 
FIFTH INNING
A fielding error by the Aggies tacked on a run to the Wolverine lead, the Aggies unable to respond in the bottom half of the inning and keeping it a 5-2 ballgame.
 
SIXTH INNING
Jordin King collected her third shutout inning of the game, getting Rebolledo to chase a ball to end the inning.

Madison Muxen got the party started with a leadoff single before Gabby Aragon collected her sixth hit of the season, a double to left center that scored Muxen from first to make it a 5-3 game. Paige Knight came in to pinch hit for Jayleen Burton advancing Aragon to third and setting up a Ramsay Lopez sac fly to make it a one run game, 5-4.

Jillian Taylor came up to the plate next and singled to put a pair on the bases. Back-to-back wild pitches by Utah Valley brought home the tying run when Kayla Bowen stepped into the box for the fourth time tonight. Bowen made the most of it, launching a hard hit double to the right field wall scoring Taylor from third and giving the Aggies their first lead of the night 6-5.
 
SEVENTH INNING
Cooler than the other side of the pillow, King came out for the top of the seventh to ice the game, recording a pair of strikeouts and ending the game on a Barajas popout.
 
UP NEXT
The Aggies are back in action on Saturday for a double-header to close out the three-game series with Utah Valley. The first game is scheduled for 4:00 p.m., with the second set to start approximately 30 minutes after the conclusion of game one. For updates and exclusive content throughout the season, follow the Aggies on Twitter (@NMStateSoftball), Instagram (@nmstatesoftball) and like us on Facebook (NM State Softball).
 
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