LAS CRUCES, N.M.–  The New Mexico State softball team hits the road for the first time this season as the Aggies travel to Cathedral City, California, for the Mary Nutter Classic.
"We aspire to be the best team we can be," head coach Kathy Rodolph said. "In order to do that, you have to face top notch competition."
The Aggies take on No. 7 LSU, North Carolina State, No. 14 Michigan, Oklahoma State and San Diego State over the course of the tournament.
"This tournament has six World Series teams and numerous top 25 teams," Rodolph said. "It's a great measuring stick for where we are and where we want to go."
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BATTER UP!
Merina Ili won the WAC Hitter of the Week, as announced by the league on Monday. She was also announced as the Madness WAC Softball Player of the Week. Ili played the designated player position for the Aggies. She hit .583 over four games with three doubles and her first home run in a New Mexico State uniform. She had seven RBI and posted a 1.083 slugging percentage and .615 on-base percentage.
Ili's WAC Hitter of the Week honor is the second award for NM State in as many weeks. Kelsey Horton won the first award for her efforts in the Aggies series against UTSA.
DOUBLE DOWN
New Mexico State currently rank 11th in the nation in doubles per game as the Aggies average 2.13. Horton is 21st in the nation for doubles per game as the sophomore is averaging 0.63. She also ranks 17th in the nation in slugging percentage (1.080).
CONFERENCE LEADERS
NM State leads the WAC in slugging percentage (.493), home runs (6), and stolen bases (15). Horton leads the conference with 27 total bases. Rachel Rodriguez leads the conference with six stolen bases in the same number of attempts.
KNOW YOUR FOE: NO. 7 LSU
LSU comes into the Mary Nutter Classic after a perfect weekend of action. The Tigers went 5-0, earning wins over Louisiana Tech, Georgia Southern, and Central Arkansas. LSU has a 9-1 overall record with its only loss against Penn State.
Bailey Landry was named SEC Player of the Week and the Louisville/Slugger NFCA Division I National Player of the Week. Landry posted a .813 batting average (13-for-16), 1.375 slugging percentage, .778 on-base percentage and 10 RBI at the Purple and Gold Challenge.
KNOW YOUR FOE: NORTH CAROLINA STATE
North Carolina State is 2-7 this season. Five of the Wolfpack's seven losses have come against ranked opponents, including two to No. 14 Michigan. The Aggies are 1-0 all-time against NC State.
Jade Caraway leads the team with a .375 batting average. The freshman has nine hits in 24 at-bats. Cheyenne Balzar is the only Wolfpack player to hit a home run this season.
KNOW YOUR FOE: NO. 14 MICHIGAN
No. 14 Michigan carries a 6-3 record into the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic after posting a 3-1 record at last weekend's ACC/Big Ten Challenge. Michigan closed the tournament with a 9-2 win against Notre Dame.
The all-time series between the teams favors Michigan 9-2. The Wolverines have two pitchers with ERA's below two. Megan Betsa posts a 1.50 era and a 2-2 record. Tera Blanco has a 1.75 ERA and a 4-1 season record.
KNOW YOUR FOE: OKLAHOMA STATE
Oklahoma State is 5-5 this season with three of its losses coming against ranked opponents. At the Michele Smith Pediatric Cancer Foundation Invitational, The Cowgirls went 2-3 as they defeated Hofstra 2-1 and Saint Joseph's 5-0.
Oklahoma State leads the series 15-4 all-time. The Aggies fell to OSU 7-1 in the last meeting in 2005.
KNOW YOUR FOE: SAN DIEGO STATE
San Diego State enters the Mary Nutter with a 3-4 record. Two of the Aztec's losses have come against ranked opponents. San Diego State holds the 4-3 advantage in the all-time series between the teams.
Molly Sturdivant and Katie Byrd post a batting average above .500. Sturdivant leads the team with a .556 average while Byrd follows closely behind with a .550 average.
COMING UP
NM State returns home to host UTEP in a midweek show down at the NM State Softball complex on March 1. First pitch is set for 6 p.m.
