LAS CRUCES, N.M. – Squaring off against another NCAA Tournament participant from a season ago, the University of North Dakota softball team fell in a pair of games to New Mexico State on Saturday to open a three-game series in Las Cruces, N.M.
 
GAME 1: NMSU 3, UND 0
New Mexico State used a trio of runs over the opening pair of innings combined with strong pitching to blank the Fighting Hawks, 3-0, in the opening game of the day on Saturday from NM State Softball Complex.
 
Despite the loss, Angel Love was the top-offensive threat for either side on the field as the junior recorded a trio of hits in four at-bats to pace UND's six on the afternoon. Love also tallied one of the two extra bases hits for the Hawks, as Kayleen Schneider also finished with a two bagger. Schneider was joined by Love, Jailene Carpio, and Alicia Young to reach base multiple times as UND earned five free passes via a walk.
 
Nica Pica was solid in the circle for the Fighting Hawks, firing six innings of seven-hit, three-run (two earned) ball while striking out two and walking a pair. The junior was saddled with her eighth loss of the season despite allowing three or fewer runs for the eighth time this season.
 
New Mexico State took an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first as an error allowed the frame to continue and an RBI double to left center put the Aggies in front, 1-0, after one. NMSU scratched across another pair of runs in the bottom of the second, but UND was able to halt the threat by throwing out a runner attempting to steal with two outs.
 
UND threatened in the top of the fourth as Carpio's single with two outs looked to bring Lexi Mayhood home from second, but she was gunned out at the plate to keep the Aggies in front, 3-0. From there, Pica allowed only one final single to keep the Hawks within striking distance heading to the seventh frame.
 
As they had done so many times this season, the Hawks began to rally in the late innings. Mayhood led off the inning with a single before back-to-back walks to Carpio and Ashlynn Uvila loaded the bases with just one out; however, back-to-back strikeouts ended the threat and gave the Aggies the 3-0 win.
 
GAME 2: NMSU 8, UND 0 (5)
The big innings haunted UND as New Mexico State plated three runs in the third and fourth frames to post an 8-0 victory over the Fighting Hawks in five innings to close out the opening day of action between the two teams.
 
Offense was at a premium for UND in the loss, as the visitors only saw four batters reach in the contest. Marina Marzolino, Dani Romero, and Alyssa Rios all drew walks to earn a base while Schneider's single in the top of the fifth was the lone hit of the day for the green and white.
 
It was a rare off day in the circle for Jannay Jones as the freshman pitcher was tagged for five hits and five runs over 2.1 innings of work to see her record fall to 7-7 this season. Emily Rosas entered in relief and allowed three unearned runs on four hits over the final 1.2 frames.
 
NMSU jumped on the board in the bottom of the first for the second straight game as the Aggies plated a pair of runs on an RBI single and RBI double to quickly take a 2-0 lead. The Aggies blew the game open in the third and fourth innings, scoring a trio of runs in both frames to push the advantage to 8-0 after four. UND couldn't get any rallies going in its turns at-bat, as NMSU held on for the Saturday sweep.
 
North Dakota closes the series against New Mexico State on Sunday afternoon at 5 p.m. from Las Cruces. Fans can watch the action live on FOX Sports North.