Aggies Top Huskers in Slugfest

Las Cruces, N.M. - In a high-scoring slugfest, New Mexico State used a nine-run sixth inning to rally for a 16-11 win over the No. 18 Nebraska softball team on Friday night.

NU jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning only to see New Mexico State get two runs back in the bottom of the frame on a two-run home from Fiana Finau. The Aggies pulled even on another home run from Finau in the fourth, then broke a 4-4 tie with a Kelsey Dodd home run in the fifth. Dodd's home run ignited a three-run fifth inning that gave NMSU a 7-4 advantage.

Trailing by three following the Aggies' three-run fifth, Nebraska fought back. The Huskers answered the Aggies with a seven-run sixth inning. The Huskers appeared to be back in control with an 11-7 lead, but New Mexico State rallied for nine runs in the bottom of the sixth to earn the victory.

Senior Steph Pasquale, juniors Alicia Armstrong and Kiki Stokes and sophomore Cassie McClure each produced three-hit days for the Big Red. Armstrong homered twice, finishing with three RBIs while producing the second two-homer game of her career. Stokes was 3-for-5 with a homer and three RBIs, as her three-run sixth-inning homer tied the game at 7-7. McClure was 3-for-5, while Pasquale was a perfect 3-for-3 with a walk and two RBIs.

Freshman Laura Barrow also had an impressive day at the plate, finishing 2-for-4 with a double and two RBIs. She produced her first hit and RBI in the game.

Finau and Malena Padilla had two home runs apiece for New Mexico State, and the duo combined to drive in nine of the Aggies' 16 runs. Karysta Donisthorpe (2-0) earned the win for New Mexico State (2-1), scattering six hits over 4.0 innings of relief.

With the loss, Nebraska fell to 1-1 following the first day of the 2015 season. Junior right-hander Emily Lockman (0-1) suffered the defeat. Lockman allowed four runs on eight hits over the first 4.0 innings, then re-entered in the sixth inning and gave up seven runs while recording only one out. Lockman allowed a career-high 11 runs in her 4.1 innings.

All four Husker pitchers saw action against New Mexico State. Sophomore Cassie McClure allowed three runs (two earned) on four hits in 1.0 inning of relief, while freshmen Caitlin Bartsch and Kaylan Jablonski each made their career debuts in the sixth inning. Bartsch was tagged with two runs while not recording an out after entering the game in a tough spot with the bases loaded. Jablonski recorded the final two outs of the sixth inning, retiring the only two batters she faced.

Nebraska continues its stay at the Hotel Encanto Invitational with a pair of games on Saturday. The Huskers face Montana at 10:30 a.m. (Central) before facing Texas Tech immediately after the game with the Grizzlies.

Box Score

 

2015 Nebraska Softball #18 Nebraska at New Mexico State Feb 06, 2015 at Las Cruces, N.M. (NMSU Softball Cmplx)

Nebraska 11 (1-1)

Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB ------------------------------------------------------ Stokes, Kiki cf.......... 5 2 3 3 0 0 1 0 2 Armstrong, Alicia ss..... 5 2 3 3 0 1 2 4 0 Knighten, MJ 3b.......... 5 2 1 0 0 0 1 2 0 McClure, Cassie dp....... 5 1 3 0 0 1 0 0 2 Sjulin, Lotte pr........ 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Pasquale, Steph c........ 3 1 3 2 1 0 2 0 0 Woolman, Kat rf.......... 2 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 Muir, Kylee rf.......... 3 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 2 Tyson, Dawna 1b.......... 2 0 0 1 1 0 6 0 2 Arthur, Rachel pr....... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Barrow, Laura 2b......... 4 1 2 2 0 0 3 3 2 Otte, Taylor lf.......... 2 0 0 0 0 2 1 0 0 Metzler, Gina lf........ 2 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 0 Lockman, Emily p......... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 Bartsch, Caitlin p...... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Jablonski, Kaylan p..... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Totals................... 38 11 17 11 2 7 18 11 10

New Mexico State 16 (2-1)

Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB ------------------------------------------------------ Nakamura, Haley ss....... 2 4 0 0 3 0 4 2 0 Adams, Emma 3b........... 4 1 2 1 0 0 1 0 2 Rother, Lacey ph........ 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 Rodriguez, Staci cf...... 4 1 2 3 1 0 1 0 0 Finau, Fiana dp.......... 2 3 2 4 3 0 0 0 0 Dodd, Kelsey 1b.......... 5 1 2 1 0 0 5 0 6 Pailla, Malena lf........ 5 2 3 5 0 1 2 0 1 McBride, Dallas p........ 5 1 3 1 0 0 2 0 1 Reedy, Tatum c........... 5 2 3 0 0 0 5 1 0 Bergeson, Amy pr........ 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Rodriguez, Rachel 2b..... 4 1 3 1 0 0 1 3 0 Green, Corrin ph........ 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 Donisthorpe, Karysta rf.. 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 McAdams, Makayla p...... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Totals................... 37 16 20 16 8 1 21 6 11

Score by Innings R H E ----------------------------------------- Nebraska............ 300 017 0 - 11 17 1 New Mexico State.... 201 139 X - 16 20 1 -----------------------------------------

E - McClure(1); Nakamura, H.. DP - Huskers 1; Aggies 1. LOB - Huskers 10; Aggies 11. 2B - Barrow(1); Rodriguez, S; Padilla; McBride; Reedy; Rodriguez, R. 3B - Rodriguez, R. HR - Stokes(1); Armstrong 2(2); Finau 2; Padilla 2; McBride. HBP - Tyson. SF - Pasquale(1). SB - Knighten(1); Nakamura, H.; Rodriguez, R.

Nebraska IP H R ER BB SO AB BF ----------------------------------------------- Lockman, Emily...... 4.1 13 11 11 6 1 25 31 McClure, Cassie..... 1.0 4 3 2 2 0 7 9 Bartsch, Caitlin.... 0.0 3 2 2 0 0 3 3 Jablonski, Kaylan... 0.2 0 0 0 0 0 2 2

New Mexico State IP H R ER BB SO AB BF ----------------------------------------------- McBride, Dallas..... 2.2 8 7 7 0 2 15 17 Donisthorpe, Karysta 4.0 6 0 0 2 5 18 20 McAdams, Makayla.... 0.1 3 4 3 0 0 5 5

Win - Donisthorpe (2-0). Loss - Lockman (0-1). Save - None. WP - Lockman; Donisthorpe. HBP - by McBride (Tyson). Umpires - Start: 6:16 pm Time: 3:16 Attendance: Game: livegame