Opening Day for Aggie Softball today at the NM State Invitational. Unfortunately, I didn’t take the day off for it. I decided to just watch the noon game between two visiting teams, UMass-Lowell and UT-Arlington, before work. It was a wonderful clear, sunny day for a game.
A cheer went up from the stadium as I came to the gate. I appreciated the fanfare. (One of teams might have been celebrating something else, but I’ll take it.) The new posters for Softball and Baseball were available up front. I’d forgotten to bring a rubber band for them. I checked my pockets and actually had one anyway. If I was getting wishes granted today, I should have chosen more wisely.
The outfield was nice and green. You wonder why it’s so hard to do this for Baseball that they had to put in a turf field. They installed a safety bag at first next to the actual base. It was colored brown and I couldn’t see it in action from where I was sitting, so I’m not sure how well it worked.
The new video board looked nice, though they didn’t use it for much during the game other than the score and a Whataburger commercial. Maybe when there’s a full camera crew there, they’ll show replays. At least I can finally get the scoring with the hits and the errors and not have to guess. It didn’t look that expensive. Why can’t they get one for Baseball, which really needs a scoreboard that works in the daylight?
There was a lively little crowd present for the two visiting teams with lots of chatter. I wasn’t sure who dominated the crowd, since both teams had about the same colors. UML had nice white and blue uniforms like the Mariners’ throwbacks. By late in the game though, most of their uniforms were covered in dirt.
I spilled orange juice on these scorecards for breakfast. I dried them out and used them anyway. I guess these are okay for the scorekeeping. Since, it was two visiting teams and the first game of the season, I didn’t really care. Both pitchers were in the batting lineup, along with the DP, so there was a “flex” player in the field, but not batting. (What’s with all of the “Mc’s” in the Mav’s lineup? They had three. That’s an odd recruiting strategy.)
The game started with some good defense for both teams in a scoreless first. The PA announced the temperatures in the home cities of the teams. It was 26-degrees in Massachusetts, 75-degrees in Arlington, and 62-degrees here in Las Cruces.
In the bottom of the second, the PA played Wild One after a wild pitch. That inning began with two walks for UTA. Their dugout was chanting, “Basehit! Ball Four!” Cameron Cooper made an impressive bunt single to load the bases. Pitcher Madi McDonnell helped her own cause by bringing in a run on a fielder’s choice. Likely the smallest player in the game, Marley Neises, jacked a 3-run homer into the new scoreboard to make it, 4-0. I rang my cowbell on runs for both teams. Why not?
Top third, a UML runner, Elizabeth Neeld, was thrown out at home. It looked like maybe seemed like she stepped over the tag and touched home plate. She danced around for a moment before being tagged out. A nearby fan commented on me keeping score and called it a “lost art.” Yep, it’s just the official scorer, the broadcasters, baseball-loving grandmothers, and me doing it. By the bottom of the third, I was getting warm. Marketing Director Nicole Sack was walking around handing out fans. I finally took off my sweatshirt and was still hot.
In the top of the fourth, an RBI double by Julia Rowley for UML made it, 4-1 UTA. Baseball was warming up next door and playing a scrimmage. Some of the guys came over beyond the outfield wall and started taking swings at a large old tire. Thump, thump, thump. I don’t know what that exercise was for.
In the bottom of the fourth, there was a dropped popup on infield that would have been the third out that resulted in a run scoring to make it, 5-1 UTA. In fairness, it was a tough sun out. I looked up a look of times on foul balls into the stands and got blinded, even in sunglasses. The hitter, Dee McClarity, got pegged on the ankle on a pickoff throw by the catcher. She stayed in.
In the bottom of the fifth, we had the scoring anomaly of one flyball going to each outfielder. In the top of the sixth, UML made a nice double play, though there was then a deflected ball at third that the shortstop took a tough error on, as her throw pulled the first baseman off of the bag. A caught stealing ended the inning anyway.
In the bottom of the sixth, a liner hit the fence. The centerfielder caught it off the rebound, but that doesn’t count and a run scored, 6-1 UTA. Hailey Lynn Sralik had a shaky seventh and started getting wild, but finished the game by starting a double play. UTA wins it, 6-1. I’ll pick Marley Neises as our player of the game for her 3-run homer in the second.
Admittedly, I didn’t care about the outcome, but it was so pleasant and I was happy to be out watching a ball game.
Bonus Coverage: NM State Aggies vs UML and UTA
I went to work early afterward and partook of their Superbowl pot luck. I overindulged. There was pizza, mini-corndogs, mini-BBQ weenies, croissants with mini-weenies, and buttery rolls with tomato sauce, melted mozzarella cheese, and pepperoni in the middle. I think I also had a donut and something like chocolate pudding. (I’m getting indigested just thinking about it.)
The two Aggie games were on the radio, which I listened to while working. The Aggies played UML first. Devin Elam hit a 3-run homer in the third and had 5 RBI’s overall in a quick, 8-0, run rule win. Taryn Bennett was in the winner with 4 scoreless innings and Zantelle Rodriguez had 1 inning in relief. That was a good start.
The Aggies next played UTA. They went down 5-0 with 4 of those runs unearned. (There was an error with 2 outs.) The Aggies came back in the second with 3 runs, 2 unearned. (I’m seeing a pattern here that will repeat all weekend.) UTA added 1 in the third, but pitcher Faith Aragon and Lauren Garcia both solo-homered to make it, 6-5 UTA. UTA added 2 in the fourth thanks to another error and a steal of home. Aragon was chased from the circle after giving up 8 runs, 3 earned, but not out of the lineup as a hitter.
In the bottom of the fourth, Faith brought in a run on a fielder’s choice. Her cousin, Johnna Aragon, doubled her with another run in the bottom. Reliever Jaileen Mancha, also in the lineup, doubled her in. Finally, Devin homered and the Aggies had an 11-8 lead after a 5-run inning. The seventh was pretty shaky, but Jaileen got out of it with the win, 11-9. There were 5 brutal errors in the game for the Aggies. Still, this was a good start for Aggie Softball.
We’ll be on to Day 2 of the NM State Invitational on ***Saturday.***
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