CLEARWATER, Fla. - The New Mexico State softball team picked up two wins in the 2010 Under Armour Showcase hosted by the University of South Florida in Clearwater, Fla., Saturday, March 13. The Aggies went extra innings with Florida Gulf Coast winning 7-5 before handling Long Island University 5-4 in the second game of the day.
The Aggies seven runs on 16 hits in game one, then followed that up with a five run, eight hit game to take their record to 14-8 on the season. Leading the way offensively for NM State on Saturday morning was first baseman Hoku Nohara, who was 4-of-6 on the day with two doubles, a triple and six RBI.
In the circle, senior Torrey Schroeder picked up the win in game one as she came in as a reliever and worked 3.2 innings. Game two saw freshman Carissa Theis come in for 5.2 innings and basically dominate Long Island as she gave up only one earned run, while striking out three batters.
"Today was a good response after being rained out on Friday," head coach Kathy Rodolph said. "We are continuing improve, grow, and get stronger so that we can be where we want to be come conference play."
Game one saw the Aggies take an early 2-0 lead when junior Ashley Maroda brought in a run on a ground out to the FGCU shortstop and junior Kylie Randall crossed the plate on a wild pitch by the FGCU pitcher. Randall blasted an RBI double through the left side and junior outfielder Kandis Jones crossed the plate giving NM State a 4-0 lead after an inning and a half.
FGCU posted three runs in the bottom of the third inning and tied the game in the bottom of the seventh as the Aggies were held scoreless until they scored three times in the top of the eighth. Nohara tallied two RBI in the eighth and Maroda had the other RBI giving NM State a 7-4 lead. The Eagles scored once in the bottom of the eighth with a runner placed on second base, but the next three batters were retired to close out another win for the Aggies.
The second game started with a 1-1 tie after the first inning. Nohara earned another RBI off a double to left-center field bringing in sophomore Tiare Jennings who reached base on a single up the middle.
Long Island scored two more runs in the top of the second but the Aggies bettered that putting four runs up on the board in the bottom of the inning. Jennings brought in the first run off a double to left-center and Nohara followed that with a triple down the leftfield line for three RBI.
With NM State up 5-3 heading into the third, LIU crossed the plate one more time to pull with in one after three and a half innings of play. The Aggie pitching staff was backed by some good defense in the top of the third as LIU had the bases loaded with no outs. Two outs were tallied at home plate preventing the Blackbirds from tying the game.
There were only three hits allowed from the fourth through the seventh inning giving NM State its 14th victory of the year.
The Aggies play two games, Sunday, March 14 with the first game starting at 7:00 a.m. (MT) against Saint Joseph's. The second game features NM State taking on Drake at 9:15 a.m. (MT) at Eddie C. Moore Complex in Clearwater, Fla.
Courtesy: New Mexico State University
