LAS CRUCES, N.M.–  New Mexico State softball hosts the annual Troy Cox Classic starting on Thursday. The Aggies opening the tournament against Northern Colorado on Thursday at 6 p.m. 

 "We are looking forward to playing again at home in front of our fans," head coach Kathy Rodolph said. "It's important that our young team face great competition and we've got that this weekend."

The Aggies take on Bradley, DePaul, Northern Colorado, Oregon State and No. 14 Tennessee over the course of the tournament.

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Kelsey Horton starts the season with the hot bat. The sophomore had a .667 batting average in the series against UTSA. Horton had two home runs and three doubles. She currently leads the nation in doubles per game with 1.00. She was named this week's WAC Hitter of the Week.

Samaria Diaz earned a win in her first collegiate start in the circle. The freshman pitched a complete game in the 4-1 victory over the Roadrunners. She also pitched two innings in Aggies' the loss to UTSA. She finished the series with a 0.78 ERA.

KNOW YOUR FOE: NORTHERN COLORADO

Northern Colorado comes into the tournament with a 1-4 record. The Bears lone victory came against fellow tournament opponent Bradley. Erica Dick hit two home runs in UNC's last tournament to become the school's all-time record holder with 24.

New Mexico State has the 17-16 advantage all-time against the Bears. The last time these teams met was at the Jeannine McHaney Memorial Classic in 2014. The Aggies came out on top 3-2

KNOW YOUR FOE: DEPAUL

DePaul enters the Troy Cox Classic with a 2-3 record with two losses coming against No. 18 Louisiana. The Blue Demons have four pitchers with an ERA above 4.00.

DePaul leads the series all-time 4-2. The last meeting between the two teams came in 2015. New Mexico State came out on top with an 8-6 win. Rachel Rodriguez and Haley Nakamura each had one run and one hit in the game.

KNOW YOUR FOE: BRADLEY

Bradley comes into the tournament with a 1-4 record. This is the Braves second appearance in three years at the Troy Cox Classic. Maria Schroeder was named the MVC Scholar Athlete of the Week. The junior hit .533 with six runs, four doubles, and four RBI in the Braves opening weekend.

The all-time series between the teams is tied 2-2. The teams split games in the Troy Cox Classic in 2015. Bradley won the first game 10-8 but NM State pulled out a 14-9 victory in the second game.

KNOW YOUR FOE: OREGON STATE

Oregon State is undefeated this season as the Beavers enter the tournament with a 3-0 record. OSU spent opening weekend in Hawai'i as the team participated in the Paradise Classic. The Beavers blanked UAB and Hawai'i while also outscoring all opponents 12-3.

The Beavers lead the all-time series 3-14. In 2016, OSU defeated NM State 2-10. Rodriguez had two hits and one run in the game.

Assistant coach Stef Ewing has connections to the Beavers as she played catcher for Oregon State from 2006-2009. During the 2006 season, OSU advanced to the Women's College World Series for the first time in program history. That same year, Ewing earned All-Pacific Region honors and was named to the All-PAC 10 Freshman Team. Additionally, she was named All-PAC 10 in 2009 and was a three-year captain for the Beavers.

KNOW YOUR FOE: NO. 14 TENNESSEE

No. 14 Tennessee enters the tournament with a 5-0 record. UT outscored its five opponents 47-4 during the Eagle Round Robin and only allowed one earned run. Tennessee has eight players batting .400 or better, led by Megan Geer (.615), who is tied for second in the SEC.

The Vols lead the all-time series 3-0. The last meeting between the teams came in 2010 with Tennessee winning 10-1 in five innings.

COMING UP

The Aggies open the Troy Cox Classic with a game against Northern Colorado on Thursday at 6 p.m. (MT). NM State plays a doubleheader against DePaul at 4 p.m. with Bradley to follow. New Mexico State is back against Oregon State at 4 p.m. on Saturday. The Aggies conclude the Troy Cox Classic when they face Tennessee in the tournament finale on Monday at 6 p.m.

NM State then hits the road as they Aggies travel to Palm Springs, California for the Mary Nutter Classic. New Mexico State opens play on February 23 against No. 7 LSU.