WAC Softball Tournament 2018 Game 3 NM State vs GCU

WAC Tournament Posts

This was the specific day I had been dreading for the tournament.  No, not the Aggies’ matchup with the Lopes.  It was the schedule (four games) combined with the highest forecast temperatures of the week (I think it was over 100, I was afraid to look).  At least this game was in the morning, not that it cool, but it was more frying pan than fire (which would come later in the afternoon). 

This did not dissuade a good Aggie crowd from showing up.  I found Danny sitting on the left field side of the grandstand.  He felt this gave the best protection from direct sunlight at this time of day (it didn’t really matter).  There was a guy sitting down in front of us who knew how to watch softball in style.  He had a stadium chair with an attached side table with a cup holder.  Next to him, he had a wagon to carry the chair and was full of drinks and snacks.  What a setup! 

A group of football players came in and sat below us.  (This was the unofficial section where supporting Aggie players sit.)  Women’s Basketball coach Brooke Atkinson also came in, apparently from a workout.  I didn’t recognize her for a moment and missed saying “Hello” or something as she ran past.  Pan-Am PA Ed was there, but not doing the PA duties here.  Today was advertised as $1 Kid’s Day, but I didn’t see any kids for this game.  This meant that the stadium attendants were having to shag all of the foul balls.  GCU brought their fans too.  From the purple in the crowd, it almost looked equal.

It wasn’t the same without the Aggies’ walkup music.  Also, I couldn’t hear any singing from the girls in the dugouts.  Either they were both quiet, which I doubt, or where I was sitting was blocking the sound.    

 Kayla Green worked an efficient top of the first.  Rachel Rodriguez and Kelsey Horton got on in the bottom, but were stranded.  For the top of the second, Bianca Boling cranked a massive home run that bounced off the top of the scoreboard.  I had a Kelsey committing an error on the next batter, which was ruled a hit (another disagreement with the official scorer).  Kayla kept it together and got the next out.  The next batter hit a Texas Leaguer that fell in between three fielders.  They all collided.  The ball popped up and stayed in the air, where Rachel snagged it and ended the inning.  In spite of the 1-0 GCU score, it kind of felt like the Aggies’ day after that play.

Lia Mosher and Jordan Pleasants from the volleyball team came in.  Lia was wearing an Aggie volleyball shirt that said, “Unfinished Business,” on it.  The volleyball team is looking for a championship next season.  Coach Kathy Rodolph had made a surprising lineup choice with freshman Kennedy Johnson as the DP.  It paid off in the bottom with a home run in her first at bat to tie it.  Caity Szczesny and Rachel both got on ahead of Kelsey.  Credit to GCU; they pitched to her.  Kelsey wrapped the ball right around the left field pole though.  I could just barely see it from where I was sitting.  GCU starter Briana Aguilar was chased from the game.  4-1 Aggies.

Kayla got into trouble in the third with three straight singles, which loaded the bases.  Samaria Diaz came in.  Talk about tension, she went to full counts on the next three batters.  She walked the first batter to force in a run, but got the next two.  4-2 Aggies.  The Aggies threatened, but didn’t score in the bottom.  Coach Atkinson left, but said “Hi” to the football players on the way out.  A couple more football guys came in.  After watching for a while, the guys were all wanting to take at bats.  If they throw baseballs like Larry Rose III (4-14-18), I wouldn’t let them hold a bat.  

Fahren Glackin made a great play in the fourth by making a jump catch by the Lopes’ dugout.  In the bottom, Rachel got on ahead of Kelsey again.  I don’t think Kelsey got all of it, but she got enough of it to hit it around left field pole again.  I didn’t really see it again.  Now I know where not to sit when Kelsey’s playing.  The GCU pitcher just shrugged her shoulders afterward.  How am I supposed to pitch to her?  The football guys jumped up and called for t-shirt toss giveaway after the home run.  Another fan actually intercepted the shirt from them.  6-2 Aggies.

Sam was still making lots of pitches.  The ump may have been squeezing her.  At one point, she was in clear disbelief on a ball call.  Two runners got on in scoring position, but she stranded them.  During the stretch, the PA sang out the ending of the song.  He was good.  The Aggies didn’t score in the fifth.  GCU got a single to lead off the sixth, but Sam locked it down after that.

Caity got on to start the sixth and Rachel moved her over.  Unsurprisingly, they walked Kelsey.  Fahren took the first pitch to her after that and sent it over the wall for a three-run homer.  Alexa Coons was brought in to pitch to Nikki Butler.  (Alexa is a cute little red-head.  I was actually pleased to see her come into the game.)  Nikki got a hold of one pitch and hit it hard enough that Alexa actually jumped, clearly startled. 

Destiny Blueford made an appearance as a pinch runner.  Victoria Castro was next up.  While they weren’t playing walkup music for the tournament, during a break in the action, they played her tune like it was just intermission music.  Sneaky.  After two walks, the bases were loaded and Kennedy got the game-winning run rule hit.  Aggies win 10-2.

Interestingly, it could have been worse for the Lopes.  The Aggies left 8 on base.  Let’s hand out an easy gameball to Kelsey Horton for going 3 for 3, two home runs, 5 RBI’s.  You know, typical Kelsey.  Samaria Diaz gets a nod for a four-inning, no-run performance.  This was against the same team that scored 15 runs yesterday. 

This was a good start for a long day.

On to Game 4.