Skip To Main Content

New Mexico State University Athletics

The Official Website of New Mexico State University Athletics
Now Loading: Softball
Aggies, Oh Aggies!
Emily Dix Pitch
Emilio Garcia
1
North Dakota UND 3-8
2
Winner NM State NMSU 7-2
North Dakota UND
3-8
1
Final
2
NM State NMSU
7-2
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
North Dakota UND 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 3 0
NM State NMSU 0 0 0 2 0 0 X 2 5 2

W: Dix, Emily (3-2) L: Camryn Lasot (1-4) S: Mancha, Jaileen (1)

Game Recap: Softball | | Matthew Knope

Two-Run Fourth Inning Enough to Stifle Fighting Hawks

Lunar sisters drive in pair of runs to beat North Dakota 2-1

LAS CRUCES, N.M. – On the final day of the 2024 Troy Cox Classic, the Aggies came away with a 2-1 win over North Dakota.  NM State scored both of its runs in the fourth inning, thanks to a home run from Kendal Lunar and an RBI from her sister Kayla later in the same frame. UND fell to 3-8 on the season with the loss. With the win, NM State improved to 7-2 overall and scored their fewest runs in a win this season with two. 

 

FOURTH INNING

In the top of the fourth, UND brought Katie Joten to the plate, where she was hit by a pitch. The runner advanced to second with a steal, and made it to third base on an Aggie error. Nothing came out of the threat, as Emily Dix forced the next batter into a popup. 

 

In the home half of the fourth inning, NM State did all of their damage. To lead off the inning, Kendal Lunar drove a ball well over the left center field wall for a long solo home run. The shot was Lunar's third of the season, putting the Aggies ahead 1-0. 

 

Later in the same inning, UND walked Riley Carley, who Sage Van Demark pinch ran for. She was caught stealing on her way to second, but the next three batters would reach base on two walks and a hit-by-pitch. With the bases loaded, Kayla Lunar stepped up to bat and drove in the Aggies' second and final run with a groundout to second base. NM State held a 4-0 advantage after four innings of play. 

SEVENTH INNING

Through six innings, Emily Dix was pitching a shutout and had allowed just one hit in the third. Dix began the final frame with her third strikeout of the game, but allowed hits to each of the next two UND batters. A Jayleen Burton fielding error loaded the bases with still just one out recorded, forcing Head Coach Kathy Rodolph to turn to Jaileen Mancha in relief. The Las Cruces native gave up a left field sac fly to her first batter faced, cutting the margin to 2-1 with two outs in the inning. Mancha forced the final Fighting Hawk into a grounder up the first base line, which Riley Carley handled for a routine unassisted final out. 

 

UP NEXT

Following the four-day Troy Cox Classic, NM State will get a couple days off before hitting the road for the first time in 2024. The Aggies will take a 388-mile trek to partake in the GCU/ASU Classic, taking on Utah Valley, Grand Canyon, Seton Hall, Ohio State and Arizona State. The Aggies will play one game against each opponent, with two games on Friday and Saturday and the finale on Sunday against the hosting Sun Devils. 

 

Kendal and Kayla Lunar, on the upcoming GCU/ACU Classic: "I'm excited because I think we can do something really good with that. I think we've been working really hard and when we are working together as a team, it shows on the field. We're excited for this weekend."

 

For complete coverage of NM State Softball during the 2024 season, visit NMStateSports.com – the official home of the Aggies – and follow the Aggies on Facebook (NM State Softball), Twitter (@NMStateSoftball) and Instagram (@NMStateSoftball).

##NMState##

Print Friendly Version