The Utah Valley University softball team dropped its 2015 Western Athletic Conference opener to New Mexico State by a score of 7-2 on Friday evening at the NM State Softball Complex in Las Cruces.
UVU (12-23, 0-1 WAC) jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the contest, but the preseason favorite Aggies (25-11, 1-0 WAC) countered by scoring seven unanswered runs to go on to win the conference opener for both teams.
"The girls had a strong start, but we didn't hit when we needed to to keep us in the game," head coach Nikki Palmer said. "We will need to come back strong on Saturday and play together."
The Wolverines were the first to get on the scoreboard in the contest as they pieced together a two-run rally in the top of the first inning. Following a leadoff walk from Megan Peay and a single from Taleigh Williams, UVU tacked on its first run of the contest via a wild pitch. Jaylen Watson then promptly followed with an RBI single through the left side of the infield to give Utah Valley a 2-0 advantage.
With UVU still holding to its 2-0 lead, the Aggies got things going by manufacturing two runs of their own in the second to tie the game at 2-2. NM State then followed with four more runs in the third, thanks to a pair of home runs from Fiana Finau and Tatum Reedy, to take its first lead of the game at 6-2.
The Aggies then tacked on an insurance run in the sixth to extend their advantage to 7-2. Utah Valley threatened in the sixth and seventh innings by loading the bases, but NMSU starter Karysta Donisthorpe managed to pitch out of each jam to preserve the five-run victory.
The Wolverines recorded just five hits in the contest off Donisthorpe and Makayla McAdams as the two did a nice job stifling the UVU offense on the night. Donisthope led the way by giving up just four hits in 6.2 innings to improve her WAC best record to 14-3 on the season. Reigning conference pitcher of the week Bailey Moore suffered the loss for UVU after allowing five earned runs (six total) in 2.2 innings.
Despite recording just five hits as a team, Watson put up two of them as she led the way for Utah Valley by going 2-for-3 with an RBI and a walk. Staci Rodriguez paced the Aggies with a 2-for-3 outing of her own with a run scored and an RBI.
The WAC-opening series concludes Saturday with a doubleheader at the NM State Softball Complex. Saturday's first game begins at 4 p.m., while the nightcap follows at approximately 6 p.m.
James Warnick is an assistant sports information director at Utah Valley University. For more information about Wolverine athletics, visit WolverineGreen.com.