The New Mexico State softball team began their 2022 campaign this past weekend as they started the first of nine straight home games, however the season didn’t start as scripted for head coach Kathy Rodolph and her young team.  

To open up the series NM State hosted the Sun Belt conference semi-finalist Texas State Friday afternoon. The game started off just the way the Aggies wanted it; a one, two, three top half of the inning. The top half was led by reliable sophomore pitcher Felicia De La Torre, who struck out the first batter of the season, then proceeded to ground out the next two batters she faced.  

The first run of the game came off the bat of Dani Elder, who would give the Bobcats the lead in the second inning off a solo home run. The Aggies struggled to start the game as four of their first six batters were struck out. It was in the third inning that Texas State was able to add six runs off of a couple miscues and a wild pitch. The inning was highlighted by a two home run blast by Caitlyn Rogers. 

This young NM State team would score their first run of the 2022 season off an RBI single from the El Paso native Yazzy Avila. Avila was one of the bright spots for the Aggies as she was the only Aggie to record an RBI on Friday batting 2-3. The Bobcats’ damage continued in the top of the fourth after they added three more runs to their total off a couple stolen bags and a miscue by NM State.  

Avila continued her elite play in the bottom of the fifth after she drove in another run to double the Aggies run total. Because of the NCAAs run rule the game ended 2-10, in five innings after Avila was caught trying to steal at second base.   

The woes continued for the Aggies on Saturday as they hosted Texas State once again. The Bobcats came out firing, scoring nine runs in the first two innings to take a commanding lead. It was freshman Jordin King, who started the game off pitching for NM State to make her collegiate debut. The lack of experience showed as she gave up five runs off of four hits in a little over two innings of work.  

Although Kings debut was not ideal, there was still high praise from head coach Kathy Rodolph, “I believe that Jordin King is going to be a very talented pitcher here, and her name will be remembered for a longtime … other than a couple of pitches she had a very good outing,” coach Rodolph explained.  

The Bobcats kept their success in the third inning as they added three more in the frame of a two run shot by Dani Elder, her second in as many games. The Aggies first run of the day would come in the bottom of the fourth inning after Kayla Bowen reached base off a single and Maya Martinez was walked. With runners on base, Riley Carley was able to get contact to allow one run to score. Texas State added a pair of runs in their half of the inning to extend their lead. With speed and a great eye, Yazzy Avila was able to record another run for the Aggies as she scored off a throwing error by the Texas State catcher. Game two would also end in five innings after the Aggies trailed by more than eight runs after the fifth, ending in a 14-2 loss for NM State.  

The Aggies will be back at the complex next week, starting Thursday, as they play five games in four days at the Troy Cox Classic. NM State will play two games Thursday, one on Friday and the final two on Sunday, while having Saturday off.