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Aggies fall after Panthers post four runs in sixth inning.
Source: NMSU Athletics
Photo and Story By Matthew Knope for NMSU: Courtesy
MIAMI – Despite a pair of home runs that gave NM State Softball a late lead on the road, FIU responded with a four-run sixth inning to take the lead for good. The Aggies fell to the hosting Panthers by a score of 8-6, dropping to 17-13 overall with a 4-3 mark in CUSA play. FIU won its 16th game in its past 17 outings, improving to 23-8 overall and 6-1 in league action after taking the series opener.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Aggies got off to a quick start as Desirae Spearman led off the game with a walk. After a pair of outs advanced the center fielder to third base, Kristiana Watson drove in the contest’s first run with a hit to left field.
FIU answered in its first trip to the plate, driving in three runs on a blast from starting pitcher Kennedy Byrd. A pair of first-pitch hits from Riley Carley and Tamara Carranza were followed up by another Spearman walk, but the Aggies left the bases loaded to start what finished as a scoreless inning for both teams.
A walk, single and a fielder’s choice scored the Panthers’ fourth run of the game, putting them ahead 4-1 after three innings.
The fourth inning was the most productive for Kathy Rodolph‘s offense, kickstarted by a hard-fought Riley Carley walk. Kendal Lunar reached safely on a fielding error, setting up Tamara Carranza with no outs. The true freshman recorded her second hit of the night to left field, scoring a pinch-running Payton Nicholson. Still with no outs, Kayla Lunar singled with a perfectly executed bunt to third base that scored her younger sister. Later in the inning, Spearman fought through a 10-pitch at-bat to notch a single to score Carranza and tie the game at 4-4.
In the bottom of the inning, Taryn Bennett relieved the starting Faith Aragon. The Hampton transfer needed just 10 pitches to retire the side in order. In the top of the fifth, Bennett stepped up to the plate for the first time in her Aggie career after taking two at-bats with the Pirates a year ago. The right-handed pitcher prepared in the left-handed batter’s box, however, fouling off a pair of pitches before being the second out of a 1-2-3 inning. In the bottom half, the first-year Aggie utilized another 10-pitch inning to sit the Panthers down, highlighted by a double play.
The first offering of the sixth frame was sent to home run territory, but landed just foul. The very next pitch was the first four-bagger of true freshman Tamara Carranza’s young career, scoring a go-ahead fifth run for the Crimson & White. Desirae Spearmanfollowed up with a first-pitch home run of her own later in the inning, putting her side ahead 6-4.
The Panthers answered a few minutes later, posting a double after a leadoff walk, cutting the deficit to one run. On the next pitch, the home team pulled ahead with a home run that held fair around the right-field foul pole. Another walk led to a single and a stolen base, setting up an RBI groundout to pull ahead 8-6.
The Aggie bats went down on eight pitches in the seventh, granting the home team a two-run victory.
NUMBERS OF NOTE
- For the first time in her career, Tamara Carranza belted a home run in the sixth inning.
- The true freshman has six of her 11 career hits in the past four games and has hit .545 over the span.
- The three-hit game was the first of Carranza’s career as she led the team in hits on Friday.
- NM State now trails 11-16 in the all-time series against FIU, now holding a 2-7 record in Miami.
- Last season, Desirae Spearman led the Aggies with 21 walks drawn across a 55-game season. The sophomore has already earned 29 walks this season, including two on Friday.
- At the start of the weekend, only six players in Division I had drawn more than 27 walks.
- The sophomore’s home run in the fifth frame was her 13th of the season, widening her CUSA-best mark.
FROM THE FIELD
Head Coach Kathy Rodolph, on the loss: “I felt like we did a lot of things right today. We did some things that made us give up some runs. When you’re at somebody else’s place, you can’t give up free runs because have to work too hard to get them. I think tomorrow I’d like to see us come out determined and pass the bat while really cleaning up our defense and continue to make plays when they matter.
Head Coach Kathy Rodolph, on Tamara Carranza’s recent offensive success: “I feel like she has great expectations for what she would like to bring for the team. As those continue to increase, so will her skill set because she comes in and works hard every day. You love to see work like that pay off.”
UP NEXT
The Aggies and Panthers will meet again tomorrow for the second of three games in the Sunshine State. The visitors will have their eyes on evening the series as they take the field at 4:00 p.m. MT (6:00 p.m. ET). The action is available to follow via nmstatestats.com.
For complete coverage of NM State Softball during the 2025 season, visit NMStateSports.com – the official home of the Aggies – and follow the Aggies on Facebook (NM State Softball), Twitter (@NMStateSoftball) and Instagram (@NMStateSoftball).
