DePaul University Athletics
DePaul University
New Mexico State
Softball Drops 8-6 Decision to New Mexico State
2/28/2015 12:00:00 AM | SOFTBALL
Box Score: New Mexico State 8, DePaul 6 
LAS VEGAS - The DePaul softball team lost a non-conference contest to New Mexico State on Saturday afternoon at the Alexis Park Resort Classic, 8-6. The Blue Demons (6-10) were held to six runs on six hits and also committed six errors.
DePaul got the lead to start the affair following an error off of a ball put in play by Nicole Pihl in the bottom of the first inning.
New Mexico State (13-7) responded by putting up four runs in the top of the second off of three RBI singles.
A wild pitch in the home half of the second and a two-run home run by Nicole Pihl in the third brought the game level at 4-4.
Following a clean fourth inning, the Aggies notched a pair of sacrifice flies in the fifth to take a 6-4 lead. However, Pihl came to the plate and smacked another homer - this one a solo shot - and brought the margin down to one.
Later in the fifth, Angela Scalzitti was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded and tied the game once again.
Both teams were held in check in the sixth, setting up a dramatic seventh frame.
New Mexico State began the final inning with three straight hits and scored two runs on a bases-clearing double. The Blue Demons got out of the jam, getting the next three batters out.
DePaul then went down in order in the home half en route to its second loss of the tournament.
The Blue Demons were paced offensively by Nicole Pihl who went 2-for-4 with two homers and two RBI. Morgan Maize collected a pair of hits as well as four assists and three putouts.
Maxine Rodriguez was tagged with the loss on the mound after relieving Mary Connolly in the fifth inning. Both pitchers combined for 12 hits and six earned runs over the seven innings of play.
DePaul returns to the field later tonight when it plays Idaho State in the second game of the day at 5:45 p.m.
Notes: This was the eighth duel between the programs all-time… DePaul still maintains a 5-3 edge in the overall series... the Blue Demons lost only their second game of the season when scoring six or more runs... Nicole Pihl has hit five home runs in her last five games played… Pihl has accumulated six games of multiple RBI this season… Mary Connolly extended her team-best hitting streak to seven straight games… Connolly has also reached base safely in 12-straight contests… DePaul moves to 3-4 in the opening game of a double header in 2015… New Mexico State's 13 hits were the second-most the Blue Demons have surrendered this season (McNeese State, 14).
