LAS CRUCES, N.M. – The New Mexico State softball team hosts Battle of I-10 rival UTEP at the New Mexico State Softball Complex on Tuesday, March 27. First pitch from the doubleheader is set for 4 p.m. MT.
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POWER PLAY
The Aggies have four wins against Power-5 opponents this season. The team opened the season with a doubleheader victory against then-No. 17 Kentucky. NM State also defeated Big 12 opponent Texas Tech 3-1 in a midweek contest on the road. Minnesota was New Mexico State's latest victim when the team took down the Gophers 3-0 in the series opener on March 16.
TOP TIER
Rachel Rodriguez ranks in the NM State career record book top-five for hits (221), triples (10), stolen bases (76), and stolen base attempts (85). Kelsey Horton also joins the Aggie greats with 39 career home runs, so far, for in fifth all-time. She also posts eight sacrifice flies, which puts her in a tie for fourth place.
WEEKLY WARRIOR
For the second time this season, Fahren Glackin received the Western Athletic Conference Hitter of the Week honor. The senior played an important role in the Aggies' victory over Battle of I-25 rival New Mexico last week. She hit .500 with a double, a triple, and four RBI in a 12-7 win over the Lobos. Both of Glackin's hits were for extra bases as she posted her fourth double and third triple of the season in the victory. She finished the contest slugging 1.250 and posting a .667 on-base percentage as she was also hit by a pitch twice.
LAST TIME OUT
New Mexico State faced Battle of I-25 rival New Mexico in the team's last contest. The Aggie squad took home the 12-7 victory for the midweek tilt as Samaria Diaz picked up her second win this season. The sophomore pitched 2.1 innings and allowed four runs on four hits while striking out five batters. Nikki Butler tallied her sixth home run of the season while Glackin posted her third triple of her senior campaign in NM State win over the Lobos.
KNOW YOUR FOE: UTEP
UTEP enters the series with an 11-21 overall record and a 1-8 record in Conference USA action. The Miners post a .272 team batting average and 7.47 ERA.
In the circle, Julia Write leads the UTEP squad with a 6.53 ERA in her 22 appearances this season. The junior post a 2-11 record as has pitched one shutout and has tallied a pair of complete games. Offensively, Courtney Clayton is batting .412 in her 32 games played. The infielder leads the team with eight doubles, two triples and five homes during her senior campaign.
In the first meeting between the teams this season, NM State took down UTEP 8-5 at the Helen of Troy Field in El Paso, Texas. Butler had a homer in the victory while Kayla Green picked up the win when she pitched 4.2 innings and allowed four earned runs on nine hits and struck out three Miner batters.
COMING UP: WAC IN ACTION
Following the midweek tilt with UTEP, the Aggies hit the road for their first conference series at UMKC. The series opener against the Roos is set for 5 p.m. MT on Friday while Saturday's doubleheader begins at 11 a.m.
