LAS CRUCES, N.M. – The New Mexico State softball team had a great start to its fall ball this past weekend, sweeping both Western New Mexico and Battle of I-10 rival UTEP on Saturday and Sunday, respectively.
 
The Aggies showed that last year's record-breaking number of stolen bases was not a fluke this weekend as well, swiping a ridiculous 27 bags in the four games on top of their .446 team batting average.
 
Saturday
In its first game of fall ball, the Aggies destroyed WNMU 18-2 behind a combined effort from Kayla Green and Fahren Glackin in the circle. Green tossed four innings and gave up just one earned run while Glackin finished the last three innings while giving up just one run as well.
 
Amy Bergeson led NM State offensively, recording four of the Aggies' 23 hits. Merina Ili and Destiny Blueford each picked up a pair of hits in their debut in front of the home crowd. Victoria Castro and Corrin Green also notched two hits in the first-of-two games.
 
In the second game of the doubleheader, freshman righty Samaria Diaz pitched a gem for the Aggies, fanning nine batters in six innings of work. Brandy Wilke came in to relieve the West Covia, Calif., product in the seventh and completed the 5-0 shutout of the Mustangs.
 
Glackin showed fans that she could help her own cause in the circle, batting 3-for-3 in the second game while Kennedy Johnson picked up two hits.
 
Sunday
Fans got a glimpse of what the Battle of I-10 will look like heading into the 2017 season on Sunday with both games going in the favor of NM State.
 
The first game of the doubleheader against UTEP was a tight game, tied 1-1, until the bottom of the fifth when the Aggies exploded for eight runs on seven hits and three walks. Veteran infielder Misty Hoohuli had two hits in the 9-1 victory, but it was the freshman, Ili, who made a big impact as she reeled off a pair of RBI that inning. C. Green also chipped in with an RBI of her own in a pinch-hit situation.
 
K. Green opened game in the circle for the Aggies, pitching 5.2 innings of work and struck out four batters while giving up just one run. Glackin held the Miners to just one hit as she pitched the remaining 1.1 innings.
 
The second game of the day, Diaz, again showed why she was such a highly-touted recruit out of Bishop Amat High School as she pitched a complete game in NM State's 6-1 victory. The freshman gave up just two hits, one walk, and an unearned run on top of three strikeouts.
 
UTEP struck first in the top of the second, but the Aggies responded immediately in the next half of the frame to take a 2-1 lead. Ili gave NM State its first home run of the fall season when she uncorked on a pitch down the middle to leadoff the third frame. Caity Szczesny joined in on the fun with her fellow freshman two batters later as well.
 
New Mexico State wraps up fall ball next weekend at home as it entertains Midland College on Saturday, Oct. 15, at 1 p.m. and Eastern Arizona on Sunday, Oct. 16, at 2 p.m. The Aggies are schedule to play doubleheaders on both days at the NM State softball complex. Admission is free for all fans.