Troy Cox Classic Softball: NMSU vs #4 OSU 2-25-23

It’s another day of softball at the Troy Cox Classic.  Softball is really where the Aggie Country Pass really pays off.  For these tournaments, they sell day passes and tournament passes, both of which can be pricey.  They don’t sell individual game tickets.  With the Pass, you get all of the tournaments (except for the WAC one, if they hold it in Las Cruces) and the rest of the sports (except Football and Men’s Basketball).

 

It was overcast when Ron picked me up.  I wasn’t sure if it might rain or clear off and wasn’t really prepared for either possibility.  Outside the stadium, I ran into Tayelin Grays from the Women’s Basketball team again and said, “Hello.”  I should have asked her about her playing this season, as she’s done well.  Inside, I saw a couple of former Softball players.  It was hard to miss Tori Castro with her piles of curls.  I think that was Amy Bergeson with her.  Amy was with her husband and with a near future child in her belly.

 

I had been amazed five years ago by the overflow crowd to see Oklahoma (2-17-18).  I was not surprised this time by the near capacity crowd to see Oklahoma State.  It was over 900 today.  (The stands fit 1,000.)  OSU brought a lot of fans and Aggie fans turned out to see them as well.  It felt 50/50.  I saw a couple of fans wearing new Montreal Expos hats.  One of them was wearing a Rizzo Yankees jersey.  That seemed a bit weird.  An OSU fan had on a Swinging Pete golf hat.  Hey, our Golf team just put out one of those!  (And we have the real Pistol Pete!)  Both teams had radio call for the team.      

Laurali Patane started for the Aggies.  I questioned why the Aggies’ best pitcher, Aydenne Brown, wasn’t starting this big game, but the rivalry game with the Lobos was next.  I felt like Coach Rodolph wasn’t giving the team the best chance to win this one, just like yesterday.

 

The team, unfortunately, responded in kind.  There was comedy on the first play of the game.  Shortstop Jayleen Burton lost a soft grounder at her feet and spun around in a circle looking at the sky for it.  That was ruled a hit.  The Aggie fans in the crowd groaned.  It got worse.  Talien Edwards laid down a bunt and Rachel Becker scored from first.  Again, no error, except no one covered home and Rachel just kept running.  Edwards didn’t even advanced from first.  I watched the play and I can’t account for what happened.  The OSU fans had a chant for their first run of the game.

 

The next batter laid down a perfect bunt for a single.  Jayleen shook off her nerves by catching a popup at short and then grabbing a grounder on the next batter.  The runners moved up.  Next, Chyenne Factor slapped a soft single and both girls on base scored.  They nearly came in together.  There was a play at the plate, but Edwards slid under the tag.  Morgyn Wynne then came up and hit a line drive homer to center.  It was the only hard hit ball of the inning.  Kayla Bowen at first grabbed the final out.  5-0 OSU.           

 

The Aggies seemed to have some nerves going into this game.  In the bottom with two outs, Paige Knight thankfully singled.  Even though she was left stranded, at least the Aggies weren’t going to be no-hit again this weekend.  In the second, it was more of the same for the Cowgirls as they scored 5 more runs and batted around.  Megan Bloodworth homered softly to left to start the inning.  Felicia de la Torre came in in relief, but gave up a three-run homer to Kiley Naomi and an RBI single.  10-0 OSU.

 

The Aggies got two on in the bottom of the second via a single and a walk.  Bowen was batting eighth in this game.  Given that she went back to her usual cleanup spot in the next game, I think the Coach put her lower to try and protect her batting average.  Though down 10 runs, Aggie fans got into an uproar when Jayleen was ruled out on a close play at first.  Micaela Wark made a good stretch to hold the bag on the throw. 

 

The second best play of the top of the third was a fan in the crowd catching a foul one-handed in the stands.  He was protecting his daughter, who was holding a cute little dog.  The guy got a round of applause and recognition on the radio call.  OSU had a single and then a walk in the inning.  A single to shallow center should have brought in a run, but Jillian Taylor nailed the trailing runner at third before the lead runner crossed the plate, which ended the inning.  No run.  OSU fans were upset, perhaps correctly, but it was a great throw by Jill.

 

The Cowgirls came back in the bottom of the third with two great plays.  One was a running catch by Edwards in left.  Factor then had a running, diving catch from center.  The play mirrored Jillian’s catch against Nebraska, but running to right field, instead of left. 

 

Felicia walked the first batter of the fourth and was relieved by Ana Rodriguez.  Catcher Hannah Lindsay made a good play on a sky-high popup behind the plate by the net.  Unfortunately, Ana gave up a single, a three-run homer, and then another single.  The inning ended with a good double play started by Kayla at first.  13-0 OSU.

 

The Aggies went down in order in the bottom of the fourth.  Ana worked a 1-2-3 fifth.  Kayla stabbed at a hard hit liner for the second out.  Even the OSU fans applauded the play.  Kayla singled to start the bottom, but never made it around.  13-0 OSU final by run rule.

 

For the Gameballs, Cowgirl pitcher Kyra Aycock pitched all five innings, scattering 3 hits and 2 walks for no runs.  Megan Bloodworth hit 2 home runs with 4 RBI’s.  The Aggies, honestly, didn’t have any standout performances, other than making a few good defensive plays. 

 

I think Volleyball Coach Jordan would say, “The girls were stepping around some yellow puddles.”  After those first inning nerves, I think they settled down well, but were overmatched.  The Cowgirls were mostly not even hitting the ball hard.  Again, I don’t think Coach Rodolph put out her best pitching for this game and was saving it.  We’ll see how that worked out in the next game.