LAS CRUCES, N.M. – The New Mexico State softball team concludes their series with the UTEP Miners as the Aggies travel to El Paso, Texas, for a doubleheader on Tuesday, March 28. First pitch of the doubleheader is scheduled for 5 p.m. (MT).
"Our team feels like we're getting better each week," head coach Kathy Rodolph said. "We understand this journey is a marathon, not a sprint. UTEP is playing well right now. I feel like anytime you go on the road for a rivalry game, you better expect to battle. I expect a great battle tomorrow."
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BATTER UP!
The Aggies come into the game with a team batting average of .296 as seven players post a batting average above .300 this season. New Mexico State is led by Kelsey Horton, who currently has a .391 batting average. Fahren Glackin leads the team with a .488 on-base percentage.
GOING LONG
Kaitlyn Rubio and Nikki Butler combined for three home runs in the Aggies 14-6 win over Omaha. Butler hit her second homer of the season in the game while Rubio had her first multiple home run game in the victory.
SUPER STREAK
Caity Szczesny is on a seven-game hitting streak.The streak is the longest active hitting streak for the Aggies. Victoria Castro has reached base in nine-straight games for the longest active reached base streak. This season, Horton leads the team in both categories as she started the season with a 13-game hitting streak and a 15-game reached base streak.
STEAL CITY
Rachel Rodriguez is tied for third all-time at NM State for career stolen bases. The junior has 12 steals this season and 60 for her career.
LAST TIME OUT
NM State fell to No. 21 Arizona State in doubleheader action 5-2 and 7-3. Samaria Diaz pitched a complete game to open the doubleheader. The freshman struck out four in the outing. Kayla Green started in the circle for the Aggies in the second game with Diaz coming in after 4.2 to relieve the sophomore. Diaz struck out three in relief.
KNOW YOUR FOE: UTEP
UTEP enters the game with an 8-21 overall record with a 3-6 record in Conference USA play. The Miners are currently in fifth place in the West division of the conference.
In their last game, the Miners fell to Southern Miss 6-1. Kaitlyn Rider had a pair of hits while Mallorie Cross had the lone RBI in the game. Erika Harrawood picked up her eighth loss of the season against the Golden Eagles. Harrawood is 3-8 this season with a 5.31 ERA.
In the first meeting this season, NM State fell to UTEP 5-3 at home. Castro and Kennedy Johnson each had a home run in the game.
COMING UP
New Mexico State follows Battle of I-10 with the opening of conference play. NM State returns home to host Utah Valley in a weekend series. The Aggies open the series on Friday with the first pitch scheduled for 6 p.m.
