NMSU Aggies vs Missouri Tigers Softball 3-19-16 Game 1

I’m happy to be back at the New Mexico State Softball complex for a couple of games.  I’ve missed the girls.  A cool breeze offset a warm sun in mid-afternoon.  There’s hardly a cloud in the sky.  I’ve been looking forward to these games with Missouri, currently ranked #15 in the country.  I’m from Missouri, but this will not obscure my allegiance to the hometown team.  It’s impressive that the Aggie program has been able to get Oklahoma and Missouri to come here this season.  (The baseball team has to travel to get ranked opponents.) 

Looking around the stands, I can see that Mizzou has brought their fans with them.  They were easily identifiable in their shiny new black and yellow gear.  Early on, before the game started, they may have been equal in number to the crimson, black, and white Aggie fans, but that was temporary.  The crowd, as per the newspaper, was over 550.  The grandstand theoretically would hold nearly twice that many, but not comfortably, so it was functionally a full house.  Many of the Aggie softball fans are senior citizens (not myself, not yet).  By and large, the attractive young women at the baseball games, aren’t here, but there do seem to be several unattached young men in attendance.  (I’m not guessing why, just calling it like I see it.)  There were some families there.  There was a little girl somewhere behind me, cheering on the Aggie girls by name, which was cute.  Even some of the Missouri fans brought their kids, which was surprising.  I didn’t overhear a lot of chatter from them, other than mentioning the Ole Miss softball games had free admission, but charged $5 for water.

The best reason to go to an NM State softball game is the girls on the team, specifically their spirit.  They’re just fun to watch.  They are young women, serious about playing the game, but enjoying themselves like a bunch of rambunctious girls.  This time (as opposed to last time), I sat on the opposing dugout side of the grand stand, which allowed me to see into the Aggie dugout.  (With the intimate nature of the softball field dimensions, you’re not going to be able to see both.)  Before the game, they gathered out on the grass in front of the dugout and began a happy, laughing pre-game ritual that bordered on performance art.  As the opposing lineup was introduced, they rhythmically clapped for them.  The Missouri girls lined up in front of me as they were called.  I have to admit, with their generally long blonde hair and tall, lean bodies, they were an attractive squadron of Valkyries.  (Our team at least had better-looking uniforms.)  The Aggie reserves lined up on their side and all bent down to write something in the dirt, as the starters ran out onto the field.

In the top of the first, I got my first sense of the Missouri fans in the crowd.  After a homer by #51 Sami Fagan, I hear “M-I-Z” from one side of the stadium, and a callback from the other, “Z-O-U!”  I got to hear this quite a bit over three games, as they did it with strikeouts, too.  The wind was blowing out to right for Game 1 and likely aided in the four homers total during the game and their length.  The crowd collectively gasped a few times.  Judging from the distances listed on the walls, I’d guess a few went over 250’.  The Aggies did not score in their half of the first, but definitely won the cheering.  I wish I could have recorded this.  The girls in the dugout were singing walk-up music for the girls coming to bat.  They were good too and had a rhythm section to boot.  I got my $5 worth right there.

#21 Karysta Donisthrope, one of my favorites, started the game.  Regrettably, it wasn’t her day.  The strike zone was tight and she was a bit wild.  #14 Kayla Green, my other favorite, came in in the second.  No smiles this time.  She gave up a long shot to right to #2 Emily Crane, but otherwise held the Tigers down, though the score was an intimidating 7-0.  Defensively, #10 Amy Bergeson made a great diving catch in left field in the fourth and again in the fifth.  As usual, good defense sparks the offense. 

The Tiger starter, #10 Danielle Baumgartner (whom the program doubtfully lists as being from Mexico [Edit: she's from Mexico, Missouri, which is a real place]), had a unique pitching motion, twisting, then making a ballet-like pose, before delivering the ball.  She only had one bad inning and was chased from the game.  The Aggies to mounted a comeback in the fourth and fifth, scoring six runs, which got them within one run.  Offensive highlights included catcher #9 Tatum Reedy drilling a home run over the sponsor board to right and #5 Emma Adams making a great slide at home, slapping the plate around the tag.      

A pair of pitching changes seemed to finally decide the game.  In the sixth, Kayla left after walking the first batter.  She seemed gassed.  #11 Makayla McAdams came into the game and surrendered two runs.  The Tigers were up by three, 9-6.  After two quick appearances by other relievers, the Tigers brought in #14 Paige Lowary.  Her and the second baseman (basegirl?  basewoman?  baseperson?) wore face masks in play, perhaps because of a previous mishap, perhaps they were protecting their assets.  With two on, Lowary and Reedy had a lengthy battle that probably went near 10 pitches.  The at bat ended in a strikeout.  Lowary would rack up at least 16 (forgive my ambiguous scorekeeping) over the three games.  In the bottom 6th, the Tigers employed an interesting shift counter the swinging bunt style batters, as they brought up one of the outfielders to the infield.  This time, it resulted in two strikeouts.  The Aggies would not be able to score again and final was 9-6, Missouri Tigers.

My players of the game for the Tigers would be #51 Sami Fagan for her two home runs, and #14 Paige Lowary for slamming the door at the end.  For the Aggies, #23 Fiana Finau had a good day at the plate, going 3 for 4 with an RBI.  Again, #10 Amy Bergeson was a real spark on defense, and #14 Kayla Green made a good hold in the middle of the game. 

On to Game 2.