LAS CRUCES, N.M. – The New Mexico State softball team travels to Phoenix to take on Grand Canyon in a Western Athletic Conference series. The Aggies face the Lopes in a doubleheader on Friday, April 13, beginning at 6 p.m. MT. First pitch from Saturday's series finale is set for 6 p.m. Fans can stream all three contests for free on the WAC Digital Network.

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RANK IT UP
As a team, NM State averages 1.78 doubles per game which ranks fourth nationally. The New Mexico State squad posts a .512 slugging percentage which puts the team in 13th in the NCAA. The Aggies rank 24^th in home runs per game (1.06) and 25^th in triples per game (0.31).

Individually, Kelsey Horton posts 16 total home runs and 0.44 home runs per game which places the junior in fourth in the NCAA for both categories. The Aggies' second baseman has 99 total bases this season, which ranks Horton 13^th nationally. The junior's .853 slugging percentage puts her in 15^th nationally and second in the conference. She is also first in the WAC in runs batted in per game (1.19), which ranks 18^th in the nation.

WEEKLY WARRIOR
For the first time this season, Horton was named the WAC Hitter of the Week. The junior played an important role in leading NM State to a 3-1 record last week. Horton hit .750 with a double, four home runs, seven runs scored and eight RBI. She posted an impressive 2.375 slugging percentage as she had an extra base hit in all four games and multiple RBIs in each contest. Horton also posted an .846 on-base percentage as she also walked three times and hit by a pitch twice.

Horton began the week with a solo homer against rival New Mexico and in the series opener against CSU Bakersfield, she began her first plate appearance with a timely two-run home run that tied the game in the first inning. In the second game against CSUB, the junior hit a pair of homers in her two at-bats. Horton closed out the series with the 'Runners by hitting an RBI double.

POWER PLAY
NM State has four wins against Power-5 opponents this season. The team opened the season with a doubleheader victory against then-No. 17 Kentucky. The Aggies 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.

LAST TIME OUT
New Mexico State swept its second conference series this season by taking down CSU Bakersfield 4-2, 8-0 and 5-0 over the weekend. Horton posted an impressive three homers and six RBI in the series. Samaria Diaz made two starts in the circle and picked up a win to improve to 3-6 this season. The sophomore went 8.1 innings overall and recorded six strikeouts.

KNOW YOUR FOE: GRAND CANYON

Grand Canyon enters the series with a 21-20 overall record and a third in the WAC standings at 2-3 in league play. The Lopes are batting .311 as a team and post a 3.54 ERA for their 2018 campaign. Prior to the season, GCU was voted by the league's head coaches as the favorites to win the conference.

Leading the charge on offense for the Lopes are Sierra and Shea Smith. The Preseason All-WAC Team members lead the GCU squad by hitting .384 and .377, respectively. Brianna Aguilar-Beaucage has made a team-high 22 appearances in the circle while also starting 19 of those contests. The sophomore posts a 3.55 ERA and has a squad-best 13 complete games. Yesenia Morrison has tallied the best ERA on the team at 2.79 as she also comes in with a 5-3 record this season.

COMING UP: ON THE ROAD AGAIN

For their next contests, the Aggies hit the road to take on No. 12 Arizona. The doubleheader against the Wildcats is scheduled for Wednesday, April 18, with first pitch set for 5 p.m. MT.