LAS CRUCES, N.M. – The Western Athletic Conference regular season title is on the line as New Mexico State hosts Grand Canyon in the final conference series of the season. The Aggies face the Lopes in a single game on Friday, April 28, at 6 p.m. (MT) and a doubleheader, beginning at 4 p.m. on Saturday, April 29. Seniors Misty Hoohuli and Haley Nakamura will be honored in a Senior Night ceremony following the series finale.
The Aggies enter the series with a one game lead over the Lopes in conference play. New Mexico State needs one win to claim a share of the regular season title. If NM State wins the series, the Aggies will be named the WAC Regular Season Champions.
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WHERE TO WATCH
Game two of the series will be broadcast live on Fox Sports Arizona Plus, Fox College Sports Pacific, Fox Sports Oklahoma, Fox Sports Southwest Plus and Altitude. The series finale will air on the WAC Digital Network.
HORTON HEARS A BOOM
Kelsey Horton was named the Western Athletic Conference Hitter of the Week for the third time this season. She hit a double and four home runs in five games last week. Horton ended Arizona's no-hitter in the bottom of the seventh with a long ball over the center field fence for the lone run against the No. 3 Wildcats. It was just the fifth homer given up by Arizona's Taylor McQuillin all season. Horton hit another homer in the series opener against CSU Bakersfield last Friday and then helped NM State clinch the series over the Roadrunners when she went 4-for-4 with a double, a homer and a grand slam in the Aggies' 13-3 victory in the series finale.
STEAL CITY
Rachel Rodriguez recorded a stolen base for the 17th time this season against CSU Bakersfield. With the steal, Rodriguez claimed second place in the NM State record books for career stolen bases (64). She currently ranks third in stolen base attempts with 72.
WHERE IN THE WAC
New Mexico State posts the top record in conference play at 10-2 and an overall record of 22-20. NM State leads the WAC with 39 home runs and 55 stolen bases as a team. Rachel Rodriguez leads the league with 17 stolen bases. Kelsey Horton leads the conference in batting average (.437), slugging percentage (.830), on-base percentage (.497), total bases (112) and home runs (13).
In conference play alone, New Mexico State leads the WAC with a .357 batting average and a .621 slugging percentage. The team is also first in the conference with 19 home runs, 87 runs scored, and 79 RBI in conference play. Horton leads all players with a .568 batting average and a 1.297 slugging percentage
LAST TIME OUT
The Aggies went 2-1 against CSU Bakersfield in their last conference series. New Mexico State won the series opener, 5-2, and the five-inning series finale, 13-3. In the run-rule victory, Kelsey Horton hit a home run and a grand slam in the game. Samaria Diaz picked up a win and a save against the 'Runners. She did not allow an earned run in the six innings she pitched.
KNOW YOUR FOE: GRAND CANYON
The Lopes enter the series with a 34-14 overall record and a 9-3 record in conference play The Lopes swept Utah Valley in their final home series of the season to bring their winning streak to seven games In the series finale, GCU shutout UVU 10-0 in five innings of play. Taylor Nowlin pitched a complete game, allowing only two hits and three walks.
Nowlin leads Grand Canyon in the circle with a 19-7 record and a 2.81 ERA. She was named the WAC Pitcher of the Week for the third time this season for her efforts against the Wolverines. On offense, Shea Smith leads the Lopes with a .372 batting average and a .422 on-base percentage in her 48 games played.
COMING UP
Following the series with Grand Canyon, New Mexico State travels to take on New Mexico on Tuesday, May 2 at 5 p.m. NM State closes out the regular season at home with a doubleheader against Florida Atlantic, beginning at 5 p.m. on Thursday, May 4.
