ALBUQUERQUE, New Mexico – Utah State softball (22-23, 5-12 MW) dropped the first game of its final conference road series Friday evening in Albuquerque, falling to New Mexico 9-6. 
 
Utah State started things off on a strong note, putting three runs on the board in its first turn at the plate. First, it was junior infielder Ariel Fifita clearing the left field fence with a home run on the third pitch of the evening. Later in the inning, sophomore outfielder Jaden Colunga sent a triple to left center field to bring sophomore infielder Alex Bunton and freshman outfielder Tatum Silva across the plate. The Lobos responded with one run in the bottom of the inning. 
 
Each side scored two runs in the third, Utah State's coming courtesy of junior infielder Giselle Gonzalez who used a two-run blast to extend the team's lead. After an RBI single by sophomore outfielder Kya Pratt in the fourth, the hosts rallied to score five runs in the bottom of the fourth and take their first lead of the evening at 8-6. They'd remain on top the rest of the way, tacking on one more run in the bottom of the fifth before a pair of scoreless innings from each side. 
 
The Aggies recorded seven hits in the contest to New Mexico's nine, led by a 3-for-3 showing by Fifita. She was the lone Utah State player with multiple hits. 
 
In the circle, USU cycled through four different pitchers. Sophomore Tess Bumiller got the start and pitched the first two innings before senior Jessica Stewart took over for the third. Graduate Katie Zuniga pitched 1.1 innings with a pair of strikeouts, then redshirt sophomore Denay Smith took the Aggies the rest of the way. 
 
Up Next
Utah State (22-23, 5-12 MW) will play part two of its three-game series against New Mexico tomorrow.. First pitch is slated for 1 p.m., in Albuquerque.
 
For more information on the Utah State softball program, follow the Aggies on Twitter at @USUSoftball, on Facebook at USUSoftball and on Instagram at ususoftball.
 
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