· Penn State box score
· New Mexico State box score
| Junior Kristin Kappler launched her second home run of the season in the 8-4 loss to Penn State. |
LAS CRUCES, N.M. – Sophomore Caitlyn Ivy went 3-for-4 and juniors Danye Holmes and Kristin Kappler went yard for the second time this season, but it was not enough to overcome a 7-1 deficit as Penn State defeated UTSA, 8-4, on day two of the Hotel Encanto Invitational. New Mexico State used 12- and nine-run innings to run away from the Roadrunners, 28-7, in five innings late Saturday night.
With the two losses, the Roadrunners saw their record fall to 2-2 on the opening weekend. Penn State moved to 3-1, while New Mexico State improved to 5-0.
UTSA found itself in a 4-0 hole after two innings in the Penn State contest. Danee Collett put the Nittany Lions up by two in the first inning with a two-run double to right field, while an error in the outfield off the bat of Cassidy Bell allowed two more runs to cross in the second.
The Roadrunners got one run back in the top of the third, as Holmes drove in senior Rudi Cantu – who reached on an error – with a single to right center. However, Penn State scratched for three more in the bottom of the frame, highlighted by an Alyssa Renwick home run. Kailyn Johnson hit a solo homer in the next inning to push the lead to seven.
UTSA found the fence in the fifth as Holmes launched a two-run home run to left center that plated Ivy and Kappler made it back-to-back with a blast to left center to pull UTSA to within 8-4, but the Nittany Lions held on for the win.
Lisa Akamine struck out nine and allowed three earned runs on nine hits in earning her first win of the year. Sophomore Morgan Luksa saw her record even out at 1-1 in the loss, surrendering three earned runs on four hits in four frames.
Senior Kelly Cato collected two hits and a pair of RBIs, but it was not enough in the second game, as the host Aggies used a pair of big innings to run-rule UTSA late Saturday night.
New Mexico State jumped on the Roadrunners quickly in top of the first, as Hoku Nohara blasted a grand slam to help stake the Aggies to a 4-0 advantage.
UTSA countered with three runs in the bottom of the frame. Cantu reach on an error, stole second and scored on a double by Ivy. After a walk to Holmes, Ivy came around to score when the NMSU shortstop committed a throwing error off the bat of Kristin Kappler. Senior Krista Sitka drew a walk and then fellow senior Cassie Miller received a free pass with two outs to make it 4-3 after one.
The Aggies blew the game open with 12 runs on 10 hits in the top of the third, highlighted by a pair of home runs from Ashley MAroda. Cato had an RBI double and sophomore Ashley Kappler lined a run-scoring single to center to help the Roadrunners get three runs back in the bottom of the third, but NMSU exploded for nine more in the fourth and three in the fifth to put the run rule into effect.
The Roadrunners conclude the Hotel Encanto Invitational against Colorado State at noon Sunday.