New Mexico State rallied from an eight-run deficit Sunday, April 26 to defeat Delaware 12-10, clinching a three-game series victory at the NM State Softball Complex. The Aggies took two of three against the Blue Hens over the weekend, winning Game 1 on Friday and the decisive finale Sunday after Delaware evened the series with a dominant run-rule win Saturday.
The weekend opened Friday with New Mexico State taking the series opener, setting the stage for an intense middle game Saturday, April 25 in which Delaware pulled away early and held on for an 11-2 victory in six innings, scoring in every inning and collecting 15 hits.
Sunday’s finale proved to be the most dramatic of the three. New Mexico State erupted for eight runs in the first inning to build a commanding lead, only to watch Delaware fight back and knot the game at 9-9 before the Aggies pulled away for good with three runs in the sixth.
Gianna Costaro gave Delaware an early 5-0 lead with a grand slam in the first inning, and Maddie Diamond followed with a solo home run to make it 5-0 before New Mexico State had even batted. However, the Blue Hens could not hold the lead.
New Mexico State sent 11 batters to the plate in the bottom of the first, scoring eight times. Skye Johnson delivered a two-RBI single, and Lauren Garcia added a two-RBI hit in the inning as the Aggies turned the deficit into an 8-5 advantage.
Delaware clawed back, tying the game at 9-9 in the third inning on a run-scoring single by Bridget Chapman and an unearned run on a throwing error. Costaro put the Blue Hens back in front 10-9 with an RBI double in the fifth.
New Mexico State answered decisively in the sixth. Destan Burks drove in a run with a single to tie the game at 10, and Lauren Garcia followed with a two-RBI single to plate Johnna Aragon and Madi Bachman, giving the Aggies a 12-10 lead they would not relinquish.
Faith Aragon earned the win for New Mexico State, going seven innings and striking out nine batters after relieving Jaileen Mancha in the first. Kylie Wilkerson took the loss for Delaware. Costaro finished the series finale 2-for-4 with five RBIs. Madi Bachman went 3-for-4 with an RBI for New Mexico State, while Johnson and Garcia each drove in two runs.
In Saturday’s Game 2, Katie Scheivert went 4-for-4 with a walk and two runs scored to lead Delaware’s 15-hit attack. Josie Crossman pitched all six innings, allowing six hits and one earned run while striking out four. Skye Johnson led New Mexico State’s offense, going 2-for-3 with a double.
New Mexico State finished the series at 25-23 overall and 15-9 in conference play. Delaware concluded the weekend at 28-21 overall and 15-9 in conference.
