LAS CRUCES, N.M. – The New Mexico State softball team travels to Las Vegas for the UNLV Rebel Classic on Thursday, March 9. The Aggies take on DePaul, SIU, Portland State, and UNLV over the course of three days.
"We are excited to get on the field and challenge ourselves," head coach Kathy Rodolph said. "It's also great to be in Las Vegas with our fellow Aggies as they compete at the men's and women's WAC basketball championship."
NM State looks to snap its nine-game losing streak at the Rebel Classic. The Aggies last win came at the Troy Cox Classic when New Mexico State defeated DePaul 8-1. The Blue Demons are the Aggies' first opponent in Las Vegas.
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HEAVY-HITTING
The Aggies have five players batting over .300 so far this season. On offense, NM State is led by Kelsey Horton who is batting .432. She has also reached base in all 14 games this season. Rachel Rodriguez follows closely behind with a .370 batting average.
GOING, GOING, GONE!
New Mexico State had its second multiple home run game in the Aggies loss to UTEP. Kennedy Johnson hit a solo home run while Victoria Castro hit a two-run blast to center field. It was Johnson's second homer of the season and Castro's first.
STEAL CITY
Rodriguez is one stolen base from cracking the top five all-time at New Mexico State for career stolen bases. The junior currently leads the WAC as she is a perfect 7-7 this season. Rodriguez already solidified her name in the record books as she stole 34 bases in 2016 to rank fourth all-time for a single season.
KNOW YOUR FOE: DEPAUL
DePaul enters the Rebel Classic on a six-game winning streak. The Blue Demons swept play at the Winthrop Tournament as they defeated Cleveland State and Winthrop. Missy Zoch was named Big East Pitcher of the Week as she pitched three complete games, two against Winthrop and one against Cleveland State.
In the first meeting between NM State and DePaul, the Aggies defeated the Blue Demons 8-1. Kaitlyn Rubio hit her first collegiate home run on the win. Samaria Diaz and Kayla Green combined for the win with Diaz allowing five hits and one run in her 4.0 innings pitched.
KNOW YOUR FOE: SIU
The Salukis enter the tournament 9-10 after going 1-3 at the Coach B Classic in Carbondale, Ill. Both NM State and SIU have one win against the other with the last meeting between the teams coming in 2001.
SIU's Susie Baranski took home the Newcomer of the Week award for the Missouri Valley Conference this past week. She batted .692 as she picked up nine hits in 13 at bats and had at least one in each game.
KNOW YOUR FOE: PORTLAND STATE
Portland State comes to Las Vegas after going 0-5 at the Louisville Slugger Invitational. The Vikings' lone win this season was a 4-3 victory over Rhode Island at the Grand Canyon Invitational.
The Vikings have five players batting over .300 this season. The team is led by Marissa Bruno, who is batting .351 and has started 13 of Portland State's 14 games.
KNOW YOUR FOE: UNLV
The Rebels enter the tournament with a 13-7 record this season. UNLV shutout Creighton 4-0 in the Rebels' last outing. Pitcher Morgan Ettinger pitched a complete game, allowing five hits for her eleventh win.
In the last meeting between the two teams, the Aggies pulled out the 1-0 victory over the Rebels. However, UNLV leads the series all-time 30-11.
COMING UP
Following the UNLV Rebel Classic, New Mexico State returns home to take on I-25 rival New Mexico in a midweek matchup on Wednesday, March 15. First pitch is scheduled for 5 p.m.
