Friday, April 19, 2024
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The Aggies' offense exploded to post 19 runs, including 10 in the second inning to run away with another lopsided victory in the Battle of I-10 – defeating UTEP 19-3 on Wednesday night. Felicia De La Torre picked up her first win of the season as she went three innings and gave up just four hits while striking out three UTEP batters. Offensively, the Aggies were led by Ramsay Lopez who went 2-for-2 at the plate with a pair of two-run home runs to compile four RBIs. Meanwhile, Yazzy Avila also finished the night 2-for-2 with an RBI and three stolen bases. Kayla Bowen and Maya Martinez each helped bring across three runs as Bowen hit a three-run shot in the second and Martinez tallied a pair of hits and a home run. In total, ten different Aggies recorded a hit on the night while eight of those batters also registered at least one RBI. FIRST INNINGFelicia De La Torre was in the circle for the Aggies and opened the evening by walking two of the first three batters she faced. However, she was able to strand the two runners after a ground out, strikeout, and outfield assist from Hailey Tanori as she threw out the lead runner at home to leave UTEP at zero runs after their first plate appearance. In the bottom of the first, Yazzy Avila did what any good leadoff hitter does - get on base, doing so via a walk. Ramsey Lopez then proceeded to hit a ball down the right-field line and was just able to sneak it inside the foul pole for a 2-run homer to get the scoring underway for both sides. SECOND INNINGBack in the circle for the top of the second, De La Torre had a much smoother inning as she faced just four batters in the inning. After giving up a single to Cheyenne Stark, Del La Torre struck out Lenna Santos for the second out of the inning and got Aaliyah Rebolledo to ground out into a fielder's choice to finish the top of the inning with the score still 2-0. The bottom of the second would ultimately decide the outcome as the Aggies combined to bring across 10 runs in the inning. Maya Martinez opened the inning with a single up the middle before Jillian Taylor reached base on a bunt down the third-base line. A double from Melika Ofoia in the next at bat then brought both Martinez and the speedy Taylor around to score to give Ofoia her second and third RBIs of the season. Following a bunt that allowed Hailey Tanori to reach first, Avila used the same method to bring across a runner as her bunt brought around Savannah Bejerano who had come in to pinch run for Ofoia. After Tanori scored on a wild pitch, senior Kayla Bowen added to the Aggies' total as she homered to left center to increase the Aggie lead to 8-0 with zero outs on the board in the second. Paige Knight then singled and was then swapped out for Jayleen Burton who was inserted to pinch run for the Owasso, Okla., native. The next plate appearance then produced a run as Riley Carley singled to center and Burton made the trek from first to third thanks to a UTEP throwing error. Carley's hit also forced a pitching change as Zaylie Calderon entered the circle for the Miners. Calderon earned the innings' first out as she got Maya Martinez to fly out to left in her second at-bat of the inning. Calderon did not fare as well against the second batter she faced as Jillian Taylor got ahold of a pitch to hit her first home run of the season and add two runs to the scoreboard eventually allow the Aggies to carry a 12-0 lead into the third. THIRD INNINGThe Miners finally got into the scoring action in the third inning as Kaylin Jackson hit a three-run shot after Autumn Scott reached base on an infield single and Pate Cathey was hit by a pitch to put a pair of UTEP hitters on the base paths. De La Torre would put away the next two batters to leave the Aggie lead at 12-3. The Aggies responded to the three UTEP runs as Avila reached base for the third time in three plate appearances as she collected her second hit of the evening to start the bottom half. Ramsay Lopez then jacked a pitch over the centerfield wall to put the Aggies ahead 14-3. Maya Martinez would join the home run party as she hit the fifth Aggie bomb of the first three innings – scoring two for the Aggies as Jayleen Burton had reached on a single. The two-run shot left the Aggies ahead 16-3 through three. FOURTH INNINGJordin King came into the circle for the home side to start the fourth. She made quick work of the Miner batters after giving up a hit to the first batter she faced – striking out the next two and getting the fourth to ground out to second. The Aggies then used small ball in the bottom of the third to tack on three more as seven batters entered the batter's box. The first Aggie to reach first was Kristen Boyd who was walked. Hannah Lindsay then reached on an error. The following Paige Knight moved Lindsay over to third and scored Tanori with a single of her own. Riley Carley followed the Paige Knight hit with a single to bring across Boyd before Martinez put a ball in play that scored Lindsay and gave the Aggies their 19th run of the evening. UP NEXTThe Aggies now take to the road for the first time during the 2022 campaign as they get set to partake in the Boyd Gaming Classic in Las Vegas. NM State will open its slate in Sin City with a matchup versus No. 5 Washington while also battling with UNLV and Houston during three-day stretch. BOYD GAMING CLASSIC SCHEDULEFriday, March 4 – vs. No. 5 Washington, 10 a.m. MTFriday, March 4 – at UNLV, 3 p.m. MTSaturday, March 5 – vs. Houston, 10 a.m. MTSaturday, March 5 – at UNLV, 3 p.m.Sunday, March 6 – vs. No. 5 Washington, 9 a.m. MT
