LAS CRUCES, N.M. – New Mexico State softball continues Western Athletic Conference play by traveling to take on Seattle U. The three-game series with the Redhawks begins with a doubleheader on Friday, April 7, at 5 p.m. (MT). The series finale on Saturday, April 8, at 3 p.m. will be broadcast on the WAC Digital Network.
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WEEKLY WARRIORS
Nikki Butler and Kayla Green won WAC Hitter and Pitcher of the Week, respectively, for the week of March 27-April 1. Butler hit .615 with a double, two home runs, four runs scored and eight RBI over four games played. She hit a pair of two-run homers in the Aggies 13-4 victory over UTEP. She also went 3-for-4 in NM State's WAC opener against Utah Valley. Green went 3-0 in three starts and picked up a save this past week. She posted a 1.97 ERA over 21.1 innings of work. She struck out 10 batters and only walked six.
GOING LONG
Rachel Rodriguez and Merina Ili hit home runs in the Aggies 4-3 victory over Utah Valley. Rodriguez hit her first collegiate homer to tie the game in the third inning. Ili's second home run of the season scored the game-winning run for NM State..
PITCHER THIS
With a 3.80Â earned run average, New Mexico State holds the second best ERA in the WAC, Grand Canyon leads the conference with a 3.02 ERA. Kayla Green enters the series with a 9-9 record, two saves and a 3.61Â ERA. Samaria Diaz posts a 6-7 record, one save and a 3.91 ERA.
WHERE IN THE WAC
The Aggies enter the series with a league best .312 batting average. Kelsey Horton leads the conference with a .426 batting average. Rachel Rodriguez leads the WAC with 13 steals as the Aggies have a conference best 42 stolen bases this season. New Mexico State also leads the league in on-base percentage (.392) and doubles per game (1.61).
BREAK OUT THE BROOMS
In its last series, New Mexico State swept Utah Valley at the NM State Softball Complex. It was the fourth-straight year the Aggies opened conference play with a sweep.
Kayla Green opened the series with a complete game in the Aggies 8-5 win over UVU. Nikki Butler had the hot bat for the Aggies as the freshman had three hits and three RBI in the game.
NM State defeated Utah Valley 4-3 in the second game of the series. After trailing 3-2, Rachel Rodriguez and Merina Ili hit home runs in back-to-back innings to give the Aggies the edge over UVU.
New Mexico State closed the series with a 7-3 victory over the Wolverines. The Aggies scored all seven runs in the first inning. Rodriguez had two hits and three RBI in the game.
KNOW YOUR FOE: SEATTLE U
Seattle U enters the series with a 13-22 overall record and a 2-1 conference record. SU is led by Paige Bouska on offense. The senior has started all 35 games for Seattle U this season and posts a .397 batting average. Bouska claimed sole possession of the program's hits record this season as she has 213 career hits.
Pitcher Andie Larkins garners the most starts in the circle for the Redhawks as she has started in 18 games for SU this season. She enters the series with a 6-14 record and a 4.22 ERA. She has also pitched 12 complete games this season and has one save.
NM State enters the series with a 14-0 all-time record against the Redhawks. In the last meeting between the teams, New Mexico State defeated the SU 6-4 in the 2016 WAC Tournament. Tatum Reedy had a three-run home run and a triple in game.
COMING UP
Following the weekend series, NM State returns home to host UMKC in a three-game series. New Mexico State opens the series on Friday, April 14, starting a 6 p.m.
