New Mexico State softball takes down UTEP 9-1 in 5 innings
LAS CRUCES, N.M. –New Mexico State softball (15-11, 5-2 CUSA) set the tone to start a three-game series with rival UTEP (16-7, 2-2 CUSA) as they earned a 9-1 run-rule victory in the Battle of I-10 on Friday night at the NM State Softball Complex.
In total, seven different Aggies recorded a hit and six Aggies notched at least one RBI highlighted by a pair of multi-hit games from Jillian Taylor and Dezianna Patmon. On the day, Taylor was 2-2 with a double and an RBI while Patmon finished 2-3 and one RBI.
In the circle, Jaileen Mancha continued her strong stretch as she tallied her fourth complete game – throwing five innings while recording one strikeout and giving up just one run and four hits.
Following a first inning in which Mancha used just six pitches to record three outs, the Aggie offense put up a pair of runs to immediately jump in front of their longtime rival. In the first, a Camryn Milley single brought across the Aggies’ first run of the game before Patmon later touched home on an error to put the home side ahead 2-0 after one inning.
Another scoreless inning from the Miners preceded a three-run inning from the Aggies in the bottom of the second. The scoring began in the second with an RBI double from Taylor. That hit was immediately followed with an RBI single from Patmon. Then, for the third straight at-bat, an Aggie hit produced a run as Devin Elam hit a ball to center to bring in Patmon and increase the Aggie lead to five runs.
Finally, UTEP got on the scoreboard in the top of the third inning – scoring one run on a wild pitch. NM State quickly answered as Kayla Lunar notched a single to help bring home Jayleen Burton to return the Aggie lead to five runs.
NM State then generated its second three-run inning of the game as Elam put a ball in play that allowed Taylor to touch home for third time. Later, Patmon came sliding into home after tagging from third base on a foul ball hit along the first base line. The next at-bat put the Aggies in run-rule territory as Kendal Lunar singled up the middle to bring in Savannah Bejarano.
The Aggies and Miners will return to the NM State Softball Complex on Saturday for the second of the three-game series. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. MT.
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