From NMSU Athletics
LAS CRUCES, NM – Despite getting a big lift from a Hannah Lindsay grand slam in the fifth, NM State (10-32, 5-14) was unable to earn the victory as the visiting Cal Baptist Lancers (27-24, 9-10) prevailed by a score of 9-6 on Friday night.
California Baptist sprinted off the blocks with a three-run first inning that saw Laurali Patane enter the game after just three batters stepped to the plate. A single down the left-field line from CBU’s Sydney Soto was the hit that did the most damage as she brought in a pair of runs to start scoring for the game.
Following a single up the middle from NM State leadoff hitter Hailey Tanori, the Aggies struggled to find success as Lancer starter Alyssa Argomaniz put away the next nine batters to keep NM State off the scoreboard through the first three innings.
However, after a big first inning, the California Baptist offense was also limited by the arm of Patane who gave up just two combined hits in the second and third inning. This stretch was capped off by striking out number eight hitter Molly Kolander to close out the top half of the third inning.
Both sides scored a single run in the fourth but took opposite approaches to do so. CBU played small ball to move Mackenzie San Pedro around the bases and eventually across home plate. Meanwhile, the NM State run came on a single swing as Jillian Taylor smashed her fifth her run of the season to give the Aggies their first run of the day, leaving the home side in the trail position by three runs.
After Patane was able to work through a clean top half in the fifth inning, NM State opened their half of the inning with a pair of walks. Pinch runner Savannah Bejerano then forced the issue as she stole second and caused a throwing error that allowed Riley Carley to move to third.
Senior Melika Ofoia, who made her 18th start of the season, then earned the Aggies’ third walk of the fifth inning to load the bases. Batting from the nine spot, Hannah Lindsay entered the batter’s box with bad intentions as she hammered a ball over the center field wall to give the Aggies a one-run lead in one swift motion.
However, the Aggie advantage was short-lived as California Baptist posted a five on the scoreboard in the sixth inning to retake the lead. The Lancer defense then held NM State scoreless in the bottom half to enter the seventh inning with a 9-5 lead.
Starter Jordin King would eventually re-enter the circle and would manufacture a 1-2-3 inning in the seventh to keep the Aggies within four runs with one opportunity left. A Tanori slow-rolling single to the right side of the infield would give the Aggies a base runner with only one out away. Jillian Taylor then collected her second RBI of the day as she knocked a ball off the center field wall to bring Tanori all the way home from her place at first base – inching the Aggies one run closer to the Lancers. Unfortunately, this would be the lone run for NM State in the bottom of the seventh, thus giving CBU the 9-6 win in the series opener.
UP NEXT
The Aggies and Lancers return to the NM State Softball Complex tomorrow evening as the two WAC programs partake in a doubleheader with the series at stake. First pitch of the first game is set to be thrown at 4 pm with the second game scheduled to get underway 30 minutes after the conclusion of game one. Aggie fans can watch both games at WACsports.com/watch.
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