NMSU softball beats Seattle to advance in WAC Tournament

SEATTLE – Tatum Reedy had five RBIs to lead the NM State softball team to a 6-4 victory over Seattle U in Friday’s final elimination game of the Western Athletic Conference Tournament.

The Aggies (38-20) scored six runs and racked up six RBIs on seven hits. Reedy went 2-for-3 with five RBIs and a home run. Makayla McAdams pitched 4.2 innings and had one strikeout in 19 batters faced.

Seattle U (19-33) scored four runs and had four RBIs on nine hits. Andie Larkins pitched 3.0 innings and allowed six runs on five hits with zero strikeouts in 16 batters faced.

The Aggies took the lead early in the top of the first inning. Emma Adams was walked. Fiana Finau then hit a double to straightaway center field to score Adams. Fahren Glackin was walked to put runners on first and second before Reedy hit a three-RBI home run over right field to give NM State a 4-0 advantage.

Seattle U put a runner in scoring position in the bottom of the second inning. Savannah Loomis doubled to left center. Maddy Kristjanson reached on a fielder’s choice as Loomis advanced to third, but the Aggie defense turned a double play to end the inning as they held Seattle U scoreless through the first two innings.

NM State scored again in the top of the third inning. Adams was walked and Horton hit a singled to left field to put runners on first and second. Glackin reached on a fielder’s choice as Adams was tagged out at third base. Reedy then hit a triple to left center field to score Horton and Glackin as the Aggies took a 6-0 lead.

Seattle U cut into the Aggies lead in the bottom of the third inning. Erika Rodgers hit a single and advanced to second on an Aggie error. Paige Bouska then reached on an aggie error and advanced to second as Rodgers moved to third. Kaylee Ree singled to straightaway center and advanced on the throw as Rodgers scored, but Castro threw to Reedy at home plate to tag out Bouska for the first out of the inning. Isabella Geronimo singled to the pitcher to move Ree to third before Rose Saenz hit a single to left field to score Ree as NM State held a 6-2 advantage.

Seattle U added a run in the bottom of the fourth inning. Kristjanson hit a solo home run over right field to leave the Aggies with a 6-3 lead.

The Redhawks scored again in the bottom of the fifth inning. Ree was walked and stole second before Loomis was walked to put runners on first and second. Breanna Timmons singled to right field to score Ree as NM State held a 6-4 advantage.

Geronimo was walked, but the Aggies turned a double play for the first two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning. McAdams then garnered a strikeout as Loomis went down swinging to secure the 6-4 victory for NM State.

The Aggies take the field again tomorrow as they face CSU Bakersfield at 12:00 p.m. MT at Logan Field in Seattle.