NMSU concludes season with loss to CSU Bakersfield
After six scoreless innings, the NM State softball team fell 1-0 to CSU Bakersfield in the championship game of the Western Athletic Conference Tournament at Logan Field in Seattle. With this loss, the Aggies have concluded the 2016 season with a 38-21 record.
The Aggies had four hits and left six runners on base. Emma Adams went 1-for-2 with two putouts and an assist. Karysta Donisthorpe pitched 7.0 innings and collected four strikeouts in 26 batters faced. Through her three games this weekend, the redshirt senior racked up 25 strikeouts.
CSU Bakersfield (16-32) scored one run and had one RBI on three hits. Amber Mills pitched 7.0 innings and had four strikeouts in 26 batters faced.
CSU Bakersfield put runners on base in the top of the first inning. Julea Cavazos singled to left field and advanced to second on an Aggie error. Cavazos advanced to third as Alex Simmons hit a sacrifice bunt. Adams then caught a foul ball inches from the netting behind home plate for the second out. Selena Gonzalez was walked to put runners on the corners, but Karysta Donisthorpe collected her first strikeout of the game to end the inning.
The Aggie defense stepped up again in the top of the second inning. Chris Hipa singled to right field. Adams then made a diving catch on a bunt at home plate and threw to first base to turn the double play and clear the bases. Fiana Finau caught a fly ball in right field for the final out of the inning as NM State held CSU Bakersfield scoreless through two innings.
NM State put runners on base in the bottom of the sixth inning. Rodriguez singled to second base and Adams singled up the middle before Horton hit a sacrifice bunt to move the runners to second and third. Finau was intentionally walked to load the bases, but the runners were left stranded as the game remained scoreless.
CSU Bakersfield took the lead in the top of the seventh inning. Jo Larios hit a solo home run over left center field as NM State fell 1-0 in their final game of the season.
