LAS CRUCES, N.M. – The Aggies returned to the friendly confines of the NM State softball complex for the first time in 26 days, playing in their final WAC home opener against Grand Canyon

NM State was able to take game one of the series from GCU with some help from Laurali Patane, who came into relieve Emily Dix in the second inning, pitching 4.1 innings while only giving up one earned run. After being down 3-0 in the second inning, the Aggies bats started to make some noise, scoring five unanswered runs to give them a two-run lead heading into the final two innings. The Lopes were able to tack on a run in the sixth, but would fail to drive anyone else home, giving the Aggies a 5-4 victory in game one.

In game two, GCU showed everyone why they are one of the best lineups in the nation. After the Aggies were able to take a 1-0 lead in the fourth, the Lopes would explode for six runs in the fifth inning and would later add two more in the seventh. The Aggies would put up a good fight, coming within a run of the Lopes after their monster fifth inning, but could not produce anymore scoring in the latter stages of the game, falling to GCU, 8-5.
 
Game One | NM State 5, GCU 4
 
First Inning
Grand Canyon recorded their first hit of the afternoon on a line drive back to starting pitcher Emily Dix, who took the ball off her ankle but remained in the game, keeping the potent 'Lopes offense to a single run.
The Aggies came up to bat and were sat down in quick succession, racking up a pair of strikeouts to end the inning without a hit.
 
Second Inning
Trailing 3-0 heading into the bottom of the second inning, the NM State offense needed to draw some momentum before things got out of hand. Kayla Bowen took a pitch to the shin when she stepped into the box, becoming the first Aggie on the basepaths on the day. Jillian Taylor followed Bowen and crushed a double down the left field line, putting runners on second and third with no outs. GCU's Meghan Golden recorded her second and third hit batters of the inning to load the bases and send Bowen across home plate, cutting the deficit to 3-1.  
 
Third Inning
Laurali Patane kept the 'Lopes offense in check, racking up her first strikeout of the game and holding them without a run for the first time all afternoon.
Kendal Lunar stepped up to the plate with one out, skying a ball to left center field - primed for one of her patented doubles, GCU played it well off the bounce and kept her at first base. Savannah Bejarano came in to pinch run for Lunar, providing NM State some speed on the bases. Kayla Bowen drew the fourth free base given up by the 'Lopes on the afternoon, walking to first base and moving Bejarano to second. A double steal moved the runners to second and third with one out when Jillian Taylor came up to bat, launching the ball to deep centerfield, recording a sacrifice hit to easily score Bejarano and shrink the GCU lead to one (3-2).
 
Fourth Inning
Patane recorded her second straight shutout inning, keeping NM State within reach. Jayleen Burton walked into the batter's box with two outs, knocking a single through the infield to get aboard. Riley Carley came up next and flashed some of her power, doubling down the left field line and scoring Burton all the way from first, tying the game at 3-3.
 
Fifth Inning
Grand Canyon produced their third straight scoreless inning behind the phenomenal pitching of Patane, sitting down former Aggie Ramsay Lopez to end the top of the fifth. Looking to extend the Aggie lead, Kayla Bowen stepped up to the plate looking to do some damage. For the fourth time this season, Bowen launched a frozen rope to centerfield – a solo home run to put the Aggies on top for the first time in the game, 4-3. Jillian Taylor kept the pressure on the 'Lopes afterwards, knocking a single and stealing second with Devin Elam at the plate. Squaring up, the freshman from Long Beach crushed a ball through the left side, scoring Taylor from second and adding a much-needed insurance run (5-3).
 
Seventh Inning
Nursing a one-run lead (5-4), Head Coach Kathy Rodolph turned to Jordin King at the top of the seventh. King struggled with her control, allowing a trio of walks but getting one out on the board before turning it over to Aydenne Brown. The junior from Edmonton easily recorded the final two outs of the game, striking out the final GCU batter to give NM State the 5-4 win while recording her second save of the season.
 
Game Two | NM State 5, GCU 8
 
Second Inning
The offense for both teams laid dormant in the first inning and a half, but Kayla Bowen proved to be the spark plug for NM State, smacking it deep to left field for a two-bagger. Bowen baited the 'Lopes catcher into throwing it to second base when there was no defender to cover the base, plunking her and advancing to third off the assumed error. A lengthy argument that included the umpires leaving the field of play to grab the rule book eventually concluded that Bowen intentionally kicked at the ball while it was coming towards her, changing the call from a runner on third to a called out. NM State picked up two quick outs to end the inning once play resumed.
 
Third Inning
Kristen Boyd drew a leadoff walk to begin the bottom of the third, shortly followed by a double deep down the left field line by Hannah Lindsay that scored Boyd and put the Aggies on the board first in game two (1-0). Riley Carley and Paige Knight threatened with a pair of singles but were unable to cross home plate.
 
Fourth Inning
The 1-0 advantage held by the Crimson & White would not last long, as GCU was able to put six runs on the board in the top of the inning. Down big, the Aggies found themselves in a similar position as game one – in need of runs to stay competitive in the ballgame. As she has much of the afternoon, Bowen answered the call, singling to lead off the inning. Jillian Taylor followed suit with a long ball launch to left field, her team leading seventh of the season, trimming the 'Lopes lead to three (6-3).
 
Fifth Inning
Jayleen Burton wasted no time at the start of the fifth inning, turning on a 1-0 pitch and sending it to deep center field - clearing the wall for her first home run in 158 career at-bats.
 
Sixth Inning
Jillian Taylor double to left center, Devin Elam RBI single to make it a one-run game.
 
Numbers to Note

• 8 – Riley Carley extended her hitting streak to eight games today, going 2-4 in game one, and 1-4 in game two.
• 7 – Jillian Taylor stands alone as the Aggies leader in homeruns with seven after her two-run shot in the bottom of the fourth in game two.
• 5 – Five Aggies recorded multi-hit games on the day, including Jillian Taylor, who went who went 2-2 in game one and 2-3 in game two.
• 5 – NM State put an end to their five-game losing streak against GCU with their victory in game one.
• 1 – Jayleen Burton connected with her first career homerun in game two with a leadoff shot to center in the bottom of the fifth inning.

 
Up Next
The Aggies return to action tomorrow afternoon when they take on GCU for the third and final game of the series. For fans who can't attend the game, all the action will be broadcasted on Bally Sports Ariz., Comcast N.M. or ESPN+ starting at 1 p.m. MDT