LAS CRUCES, N.M. – New Mexico State softball continued the Troy Cox Classic on Saturday with games against Montana and San Jose State at the NM State Softball Complex. The Aggies took down the Grizzlies 6-3 thanks to a walkoff home run by Shelby Shultes. However, the team fell 3-1 against SJSU.

GAME ONE

NM State's (6-2) Kayla Green got the start in the circle for the team and a the senior pitched three-straight scoreless innings before getting runs support from the New Mexico State offense. In the bottom of the frame, Victoria Castro got the bats started with a double and Mya Felder followed with an infield single. After a fielder's choice and an error loaded the bases, another defensive error brought in two runs for the 2-0 advantage.

In the top of the fourth, Green struggled when she hit a batter and pair of singles brought in a run, cutting the lead in half. However the pitcher regrouped and struckout two-straight Griz (1-8) batters before a fielder's choice ended the frame.

Following a scoreless fifth by both squads, NM State posted back-to-back singles with two outs in the sixth. Castro came up with a third-straight single, scoring Brandy Hernandez on the play.

The Aggies looked to close out a 3-1 victory in the seventh but Montana had other plans and a two-run blast tied the contest 3-3. New Mexico State did not go down quietly and Kayla Bowen began a rally with a single up the middle. Kennedy Johnson contributed with a single of her own but it was a home run by Shultes that secured the 6-3 walkoff victory.

Green went the full 7.0 innings, allowing three runs on eight hits and striking out seven batters, tying her career best for strikeouts. For Shultes, the homer was her first of the season,

GAME TWO

The New Mexico State momentum did not carry over into the next game with Samaria Diaz in the circle. The junior surrendered a leadoff double and, after a walk, a throwing error on a fielder's choice brought in the first run for the Spartans (5-4). A pair of SJSU runners crossed the later in the inning following a single to left field, putting NM State behind 3-0 before the squad's first at bat.

Following a scoreless second inning by both teams, Kelsey Horton began a rally for the Aggies with a double to centerfield. Felder came through with a single up the middle, scoring the senior and cutting the deficit.

Diaz continued to battle in the circle, pitching scoreless inning after scoreless inning and in the fifth, it looked like the Aggies had another offensive surge in them with singles from Horton and Castro, but the team could not bring the runners home. Each team finished with a scoreless sixth and seventh, securing the 3-1 loss for the NM State squad.

Diaz recorded her first loss of the season as the junior threw a complete game and allowed three runs on four hits. She also tied her career high by striking out seven.

The Aggies close out the Troy Cox Classic with a contest Bradley at 11 a.m. MT from the NM State Softball Complex.