Feb. 12, 2009
Final Stats
UTEP at NMSU Box Score 
LAS CRUCES, N.M. - Four Miners blasted home runs, including three in the top of the third, but it was not enough, as the New Mexico State softball team scored the final six runs of the game for a 10-7 comeback victory on Thursday in the opening game of the Troy Cox Invitational in Las Cruces.
The Miners fall to 2-4 on the season, while the Aggies improve to 7-0.
It was a slug fest for the two teams who combined to tally 23 hits on the day, including five home runs. In the end, three runs in the bottom of the fourth and sixth innings, aided by four UTEP errors gave New Mexico State round one of the I-10 rivalry.
Stacie Townsend, Jennifer Davis, Chelsea Troupe and Ashley Ellis, all hit home runs in the game. For the Aggies, it was Angie Ortega who hit a homer.
Townsend, who was the losing pitcher, was 3-for-4 at the plate with a home run, a run and three RBI.
Townsend, had a tough day in the circle, giving up nine runs on nine hits (all earned) walked three and struck out just three batters in five innings of work.
Troupe, a freshman, continues to be an offensive factor as she ended the night going 2-for-3.
Amber Bennett knocked a single in leftfield to lead-off the game. An out later, Camilla Carrera walked. Townsend's belted a three-run blast past the right field real estate to give the Miners the 3-0 advantage after the first inning.
The Aggies took the lead, scoring four runs in the bottom of the second. After a single Hoku Nahara, Ortega stepped to the plate and blasted the ball past the leftfield wall for two runs. A strikeout later, a trio of singles and a sacrifice fly by Kandis Jones plated two more runs, giving NMSU the 4-2 lead.
UTEP answered back in the next frame with a lead-off homer by Davis. Two outs later, back-to-back long balls by Troupe and Ellis lifted the Miners to a 6-4 lead.
The Miners was able to get one more run in the top of the fifth when an error by the Aggies sent Amber Bennett home.
UTEP's run came to an end, as New Mexico State scored six unanswered points for the 10-7 final.
The Miners continue Troy Cox Invitational action on Friday, when they face St. Mary's (Calif.) at 11:30 a.m. and Central Michigan at 2 p.m. UTEP concludes action on Saturday.
