LAS CRUCES, N.M. — Lindsey Stewart opened her career with five hits, including a 4-for-4 outing, but New Mexico State swept a doubleheader against UTSA by scores of 9-1 and 4-1 to open the 2017 season on Saturday afternoon.
Stewart combined to go 5-for-7 at the plate with a run scored, triple and RBI to lead the Roadrunners (0-2). Bailee Baldwin also recorded a double and an RBI, while pitcher Lizzy Fox recorded three strikeouts in game two.
In game one, UTSA took the early lead in the top of the first. With one out, Stewart tripled in her first collegiate at-bat and the three-bagger was followed by Baldwin's double to right field that gave the visitors a 1-0 lead.
However, the Aggies (2-0) broke through in the fourth inning with seven runs, five of which were unearned, on five hits and a pair of errors. New Mexico State would add a run in the fifth and another unearned run in the sixth to take the 9-1 run-rule victory.
New Mexico State jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning of game two behind a two-run triple from Caity Szczesny and a run-scoring single by Jeanelle Medina.
Stewart, who was a perfect 4-for-4 in the contest, helped the Roadrunners cut into the deficit in the top of the third. Angelica Niño stroked a one-out single to center and advance to second on a grounder. Stewart then picked up her first RBI with a single that pulled UTSA within 3-1.
However, the Roadrunners got no closer and the Aggies tacked on a run in the fifth on Kelsey Horton's double.
UTSA got the tying run to the plate with two outs in the top of the seventh following singles by Celeste Loughman and Stewart, but New Mexico State got out of the jam and closed the 4-1 final with a strikeout.
The teams will close the series at 1 p.m. (CT) on Sunday.
