Aggie softball team opens Troy Cox Classic with losses to Nebraska, UT Arlington

LAS CRUCES, N.M. - The Aggies opened the 2022 Troy Cox Classic on Thursday from the NM State Softball Complex, dropping a pair of games with a 14-4 six-inning game one against Nebraska before losing to UT Arlington by a score of 6-5.

GAME ONE | Nebraska 14, NM State 4 (six innings)
Felecia De La Torre stepped into the circle for her third start of the season, going one inning, giving up three hits and three runs after facing seven batters. Nebraska would start its half of the first inning scoring two runs out the gate. After a couple back and forth pitching changes for the Aggies the Huskers were able to add another run in the second off the bat of Caitlynn Neal. The Nebraska offense continued its work in the fourth while adding three consecutive homeruns.

After NM State failed to score in the opening three innings, they would record their first run of the game in the bottom of the fourth on a two out rally off an RBI single by Maya Martinez. The second run would score off an RBI double by sophomore Riley Carley. The Huskers continued to flex after hitting a pair of homeruns in the top half of the fifth, one being a two run shot to make it a 10-2 game. The first homerun for the Aggies in 2022 came off the bat of Ramsay Lopez who blasted a two run shot to bring the deficit to six. Nebraska did not give in, adding an additional four runs during the top of sixth to push the lead to 10. The contest ended on a one, two, three inning as NM State dropped their fourth consecutive game.

For the Aggie offense, Kayla Bowen hit 2-for-3 scoring a run. Lopez went 1-for-3, launching a two run homer off her solo hit in the competition.

GAME TWO | UT Arlington 6, NM State 5
Felecia De La Torre started off the second game of the day for NM State, allowing eight hits and six runs in five innings while striking out two batters. Laurali Patane would finish the game in the circle for the Aggies, recording two strikeouts giving up two runs but not allowing a run while facing nine batters.

UT Arlington opened the game scoring a run in the top half of the first on back-to-back sacrifice bunts to get its runner home. NM State waited four games to see its first lead of the season after two consecutive batters reached base, but it was Ramsay Lopez who knocked one over the fence to score three runs for the Aggies. The fireworks followed a batter later when Maya Martinez hit a solo bomb for her first homerun of the new season. Riley Carley followed the example set by her teammates as she blasted one over the left field fence to give the Aggies an early 5-1 lead after one.

After a scoreless second inning, the Mavericks found their rhythm in the top of the third as they added three runs off five hits. After walking and hitting a batter, UT Arlington pitcher Morgan Max was able to leave three runners on base to keep the Aggies scoreless in consecutive innings. Sophomore Morgan Westbrook reached base off a double to center to start the fourth and would later score on a wild pitch. Following a scoreless consecutive three half innings, UT Arlington would retake the lead in the top of the sixth off an RBI double by Reagan Hukill to give the Mavericks a late 6-5 lead. Keeping the deficit at one, consecutive batters would reach base in the bottom of the seventh but the game would end as Jayleen Burton was caught at third trying to get an extra base.

The Aggies fall to 0-5 to open the season as The Troy Cox Classic continues Friday with five games set to take place at the NM State Softball Complex.