RENO, Nev. - The University of Nevada softball team fell to New Mexico State 12-7 in the first game of a three-game series at Hixson Park Friday.
Nevada fell to 10-26 (1-9 WAC) while New Mexico State moved to 30-12 (9-1 WAC).
New Mexico State jumped out to a 6-0 lead after the top of the first, forcing the Wolf Pack to play catch up from the very start.
The Pack pounded out 11 hits, threatening often from the very first inning. Nevada left the bases loaded in the bottom half of the first, as Megan Fincher struck out swinging with the bags full.
Karley Hopkins continued her stellar freshman campaign with a 3-5 day at the plate. Erin Jones also had a strong day at the dish, going 2-3 with two RBI's and two runs scored.
Mallary Darby settled in after the first, getting through the second and third without allowing NMSU to score. She would take the loss for Nevada, falling to 10-19 on the year.
Nevada threatened again in the bottom of the third, this time getting a few runs across with some clutch hitting. With two runners on, Erin Jones doubled into the left-center field gap, scoring Caylin Campbell from second and Britton Murdock from first.
The Pack threatened to score a few more with two outs in the third as Lauren Lastrapes hit a fly ball to deep center with Jones on third. Aggie centerfielder Kandis Jones made a sliding play on the warning track to end the frame.
A solo home run from Tiare Jennings, along with an RBI double from Valerie Swedberg in the top of the fourth, pushed the Aggie lead to 9-2.
Nevada got a run closer in the bottom of the fifth, as Lastrapes singled home Erin Jones. Jones reached on a single through the left side and advanced to second later in the inning. Nevada scored four runs in the bottom of the seventh, including a three-run home run from Chelsea Venable and a sacrifice fly from pinch hitter Kortnee Wiley. The comeback was thwarted when Hopkins bounced back to the pitcher to end the game.
