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Aggies run-rule Kansas City; fall short to UC Santa Barbara in extra innings.
Source: NMSU Athletics
By Matthew Knope
Photo By Emilio Garcia for NMSU: Courtesy
LAS CRUCES, N.M. – Following an opening day at the NM State Invitational that saw the Aggies split their first two contests, NM State returned to action for a pair of afternoon contests against Kansas City and UC Santa Barbara, respectfully. Powered by standout pitching performances from a pair of Las Cruces natives, the Aggies took game one over the Roos 8-0, but fell in the nightcap to UC Santa Barbara by a score of 7-8 in eight innings.
GAME ONE | Kansas City 0, NM State 8 (5 inn.)
After not appearing on the opening day of the season, Las Cruces native Jaileen Mancha earned the starting nod against Kansas City – quickly dealing a 1-2-3 inning to send the bats out. Making her second start of the season, freshman Bella Clapp put pressure on the Roos, recording a triple as the leadoff batter.
The three-bagger kick-started an explosive first inning that saw Desirae Spearman notch her second home run of the young season. Kristiana Watson tallied an RBI double and a trio of Roos errors helped the Aggies secure a 6-0 lead by the time the dust settled.
After posting a trio of shutout innings (three hits, two strikeouts), Mancha exited the contest for fellow Las Cruces native and true freshman Zantelle Rodriguez. The Centennial High School product dealt a strikeout against her only batter faced on Friday, doing so again in the fourth frame for her second career punch-out as part of a three up, three down inning.
The bats stayed silent after the first inning, until the fifth and eventual final stanza of the contest. Payton Nicholson singled to open the frame, stealing second shortly after to put herself in scoring position. After Desirae Spearman drew a walk, junior slugger Devin Elam powered a double to right field, scoring Nicholson and Spearman to end the game by a score of 8-0.
GAME TWO | UC Santa Barbara 8, NM State 7 (8 inn.)
After tallying a double at the plate in the opening contest of the day, sophomore Faith Aragon took to the circle against the Gauchos. Allowing a leadoff hit, Aragon sat down the next three batters to send the NM State bats to play.
In the second inning, the Gauchos tagged Aragon for a pair of runs, making it 2-0 in favor of the visitors – though this lead would not last long. Taylor Nicholson recorded her first hit with the Crimson & White, a single to left field. The very next batter, Kendal Lunar belted a home run to center field – her second of the season – to make it a 2-2 contest heading into the third. Later, in the fourth inning Lunar launched a solo shot to break the draw and gave the Aggies their first lead of game two.
UC Santa Barbara regained the advantage in the top of the sixth inning off the bat of designated player Ainsley Waddell with a two-run blast to turn it into a 4-3 ballgame in favor of USCB.
Aragon opened the seventh frame before true freshman Zantelle Rodriguez entered with one out, recording a strikeout before handing the ball back to Aragon for the final out of the inning. Meanwhile, the Gauchos added a trio of runs to pull ahead 7-3 before the home half.
Down to their last three outs, head coach Kathy Rodolph deployed some of her most electric hitters – and they produced. Pinch hitting for Tamara Carranza, Lauren Garcia powered her first home run with NM State, a solo shot to center field. Resetting to the top of the lineup, Faith Aragon put herself on first – setting the stage for sophomore sensation Desirae Spearman to launch her third home run in less than 30 hours and bring the Aggies within one run (7-6).
Facing one final out, Duke transfer Kristiana Watson honed in on a 2-2 pitch, sending it out to dead center field for her first NM State home run and providing Aggie fans the treat of free softball.
Playing in extra innings for the first time this season, the Guachos tacked on their eighth run of night with an Emily Carr double, a score the Aggies could not match. The visitors left victorious with a final score of 8-7.
FROM THE FIELD
Head Coach Kathy Rodolph, on the split: “There were some tremendous battles that got tough, especially late in the day. Those high pressure situations are going to help in the long run later in the season.”
UP NEXT
The final day of the NM State Invitational features the Aggies in both contests. NM State opens the day with a matchup with Colorado State (9 a.m. MT) before wrapping up the weekend against Kansas City (11:30 a.m. MT). Both contests will be available to follow via 91.5 FM KRUX and nmstatesports.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).
