LAS CRUCES, N.M. – The New Mexico State softball team gets the season started by hosting the Wildcats of Kentucky for a three-game series. The Western Athletic Conference Regular Season and Tournament Champions kickoff the 2018 campaign with a doubleheader on Saturday, Feb 10, beginning at 4 p.m. MT. The NM State squad closes out the series with the finale on Sunday, Feb. 11, at 2 p.m.

GET CONNECTED
To stay connected with the softball team and catch all of the up-to-date information and breaking news, follow the Aggies on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, @NMStateSoftball.

FOLLOW THE ACTION
The series finale between the Aggies and Wildcats on Feb. 11 can be heard on 91.5 FM KRUX with Adam Young calling the action. Fans can also view the game for free on the WAC Digital Network.

PRESEASON PROJECTIONS
New Mexico State was voted by the league's head coaches to finish second in the conference this season. The Aggie squad finished just behind 2017 regular season co-champions Grand Canyon. Nikki Butler, Kelsey Horton and Rachel Rodriguez were named to the Preseason All-WAC Team with Horton being named the Preseason Player of the Year for a second-straight season.

LOOKING BACK AT 2017
In 2017, NM State posted a 29-25 overall record and an 11-4 record in league play. The Aggies tied GCU for the regular-season title but with the Lopes ineligible for the postseason, New Mexico State earned the top seed in the WAC tournament.

Trailing Seattle U 14-11 entering the bottom of the seventh in the first championship game of the tournament, New Mexico State posted four-straight runs to force a winner-take-all game. NM State claimed the tournament title and the WAC's automatic bid to the NCAA tournament by shutting out the Redhawks 10-0 in just six inning in the final game. Victoria Castro, Samaria Diaz, Misty Hoohuli, and Rodriguez earned all-tournament honors for their impressive performance at the tournament.

New Mexico State returns 15 players from its 2017 roster including WAC Player of the Year Horton and the 2017 WAC Tournament Most Valuable Player Rodriguez. Other notable returning players include Butler, Castro, Fahren Glackin and Kayla Green, who all received All-WAC honors following the conference season.

KNOW YOUR FOE: NO. 17/13 KENTUCKY
Kentucky enters the season opener after a successful campaign in 2017. The Wildcats finished the season 39-19 overall, and an even 12-12 in Southeastern Conference play. UK swept the Lexington Regional but saw its Women's College World Series dreams come to an end at the Eugene Super Region when the team fell to Oregon 4-0 and 6-5. Coming into the series with the Aggies, Kentucky was ranked 17^th in the USA Today/National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) top-25 poll and 13^th in the USA Softball/ESPN Preseason Poll.

Erin Rethlake looks to make a statement both in the circle and at bat this season. The senior posted a .300 hitting clip in 2017 while also recording a team-best 1.95 earned run average. Katie Reed was named to the SEC Preseason team. Reed received NFCA All-American honors last season hitting .353 at the plate and tallying a team-high 71 hits.

COMING UP: TROY COX CLASSIC
Following the series with the Wildcats, NM State hosts the annual Troy Cox Classic from Feb. 16-18. The Aggies take on Boston U, Ball State and the two-time defending national champions Oklahoma. New Mexico State opens the tournament against the Sooners on Feb. 16, at 1:30 p.m. MT.