LAS CRUCES, N.M. — A four-run sixth inning helped New Mexico State steal the opener of a three-game WAC series, 6-5, over Utah Valley on Friday night.
 
Megan Gibbs homered and drove in two runs while Jaeden Barajas had a pair of hits and drove in two runs for the Wolverines (11-14, 2-5). Kayla Bowen hit a home run and drove in two runs, including the game-winner with two outs in the sixth for the Aggies (7-21, 2-5).
 
The Wolverines opened the game with two runs in the first inning. Both scored on a Barajas double with the bases full and one out that drove in both Rebolledo and Kalena Shepherd.
 
Gibbs' home run came in the third inning after Barajas singled with two outs. It was her seventh of the season and extended the advantage to 4-0. The Aggies got two back in the fourth when Bowen and Riley Carley hit back-to-back home runs. New Mexico State also had the next three hitters reach to load the bases with nobody out, but Katie Zuniga got a line out and a strikeout before Brooke Carter came on in relief and struck out Ramsay Lopez to strand the bases full and preserve a 4-2 lead.
 
The Wolverines added a run in the fifth when a two-out error allowed Rebolledo, who singled earlier in the inning, to score to make it 5-2.  
 
In the sixth, the Aggies got an RBI double from Gabby Aragon to score their first run in the inning. Lopez drove in a run with a sacrifice fly before NM State tied it with two outs on a wild pitch. Bowen drove in the game-winner on a two-out RBI double to right-center that scored Jillian Taylor.
 
The series will finish up on Saturday when the teams play a doubleheader beginning at 4 p.m. MT. The games will air live on the WAC Digital Network.