Blue Raiders Swept by New Mexico State

LAS CRUCES, N.M. - Middle Tennessee softball (8-33, 1-11 SBC) was yet again so close but yet so far as New Mexico State (23-25, 6-6 SBC) swept the Blue Raiders 6-0, 6-3 Sunday at NMSU Softball Field.

New Mexico State broke a 3-3 tie in the bottom of the sixth inning to take the lead. After Jennifer Dorais was replaced by Trish White on the mound, White gave up a walk and a single to load the bases and walked in the tie breaking run when she walked Sarah O'Neil to score Ashley Roszkos. The Aggies tacked on two more runs when Stacy Knight hit a two RBI single and the inning ended when O'Neil was caught in a run down between second and third.

Dorais takes the loss because she walked the tying run and falls to 2-9 on the season.

A one out double by Jennifer Dorais started a three run rally for the Blue Raiders in the top of the second inning in game two. Kristine Reed reached first on a passed ball after striking out to place runners on first and second. Melissa Weiland beat out an infield hit to load the bases putting the Blue Raiders in business.

Sophomore Candis Littrell hit a bloop single between third base and short to score Dorais for the first run of the inning. Trish White hit a double into left centerfield with bases loaded to score Reed and Littrell and the inning ended when Weiland tried to advance home, as well, but was thrown out at the plate.

New Mexico State scored two runs in the bottom of the third inning to pull within one run, 2-3. Roszkos led off the inning with a double. After Mailei Hilva lined out to left field, pinch runner Cassandra Gonzales advanced to third when Rebecca Lebsack hit a single.

The Aggies scored their first run of the inning on a double steal in which Gonzales scored and Lebsack advanced to the third. New Mexico State scored its second run of the inning off an RBI single by O'Neil.

In the bottom of the fourth inning New Mexico State had a chance to tie the game with runners on first and second and two outs. Lebsack hit a ball to left field and Hilva attempted to go home but was thrown out when left fielder Kayla Sparks threw a strike to Leah Grothause to tag her out.

Back-to-back doubles by New Mexico State allowed the Aggies to tie the game 3-3 in the fifth. Knight hit a two out double and then Lindsay Hainzinger followed with a double to plate Knight to tie the game.

Middle Tennessee hurler White tossed three scoreless innings in the first game, before the wheels came off. New Mexico State exploded for five runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to lead to their eventual 6-0 victory over the Blue Raiders.

The Blue Raiders opened the game with a promising start as White hit a leadoff single to start the inning. After Grothause flied out to right field, White moved to second when Jennifer Grybash reached first off an Aggie error. Middle Tennessee's threat ended when Dorais lined into a double play. It would be the only real threat by the Blue Raiders the whole game.

Middle Tennessee returns home on April 30 to host its final home games of the season. The Blue Raiders host Florida International on Saturday and Sunday during senior weekend.

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