LAS CRUCES, N.M. – New Mexico State softball hosts its first conference contests against CSU Bakersfield at the NM State Softball Complex this weekend. The Aggies open the series with a single game on Friday, April 6 at 6 p.m. MT. NM State follows by taking on the 'Runners in a doubleheader on Saturday with first pitch set for 4 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.

WHERE TO WATCH
Fans that are unable to make it to Friday's contest or game one of Saturday's doubleheader can catch it on television with Adam Young on the call and Brian Cox serving as the analyst. The games can be seen live on FOX Sports Arizona PLUS and FOX College Sports Pacific or streamed through ESPN3. Fans can catch the series finale against the 'Runners on the WAC Digital Network.

RANK IT UP
Kelsey Horton ranks fourth nationally in home runs (13) and ninth in home runs per game (.39). The junior has 42 homers in her career, which ranks fifth in the all-time record books at NM State. As a team, the Aggie squad ranks third in the NCAA with 1.85 doubles per game. The team also posts a .510 slugging percentage that ranks 13^th nationally.

WEEKLY WARRIORS
New Mexico State softball swept the Western Athletic Conference Hitter and Pitcher of the Week honors as announced by the league on Monday. Nikki Butler took home the first Hitter of the Week honor of her sophomore campaign while Kayla Green earned her third Pitcher of the Week award this season. This is Butler's second weekly honor of her career and Green's sixth weekly award as an Aggie.

Butler hit .615 with five doubles, six runs scored and seven RBI over five games played last week. She posted a 1.000 slugging percentage and .611 on-base percentage. The sophomore started the week with pair of sacrifice flies and a double in first half of a doubleheader against UTEP which accounted for four RBI. She followed by going 7-for-10 to open WAC play at Kansas City, including four doubles against the Roos. In the finale, Butler went a stellar 4-for-4 with a pair of doubles and two runs scored.

Green went 3-0 with a 0.00 ERA over 19.0 innings pitched last week while holding opponents to a .130 batting average. The junior allowed just five unearned runs on nine hits while striking out 13 and walking six in three starts on the week. She opened the week by holding UTEP to just two hits over six innings in an 8-6 win over the Miners. Green then earned a combined shutout to open WAC play where she allowed just three hits and one walk while striking out a pair over six innings. In the series finale, Green tallied a new career-high seven strikeouts in the victory.

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 fell to Battle of I-25 rival New Mexico on Tuesday night at the NM State Softball Complex. The Aggies were defeated 13-4 in a six-inning loss to the Lobos. Horton hit her team-best 13^th homer in the contest. In the circle, Analise De La Roca picked up the loss when the freshman pitched 1.1 innings and allowed five runs on five hits. Green went 4.2 innings in relief and gave up eight runs on five hits while striking out three UNM batters.

KNOW YOUR FOE: CSU BAKERSFIELD
CSU Bakersfield enters the series at 5-25 with a 2-1 record in conference play. The team is 1-6 on the road with CSUB's lone road victory coming as a 10-6 win at UC Santa Barbara. The 'Runners took the series from Grand Canyon to open conference play last weekend when the CSUB squad won both the series opener and finale 3-2.

As a team, the 'Runners hold a 5.04 ERA and are hitting .231. Summer Evans leads CSU Bakersfield in the circle as the senior is 1-13 in her 27 appearances. The right-handed pitcher posts a 4.63 ERA and has thrown four complete games this season. Offensively, Julea Cavazos is batting .354 in her 30 games played during her senior campaign. The outfielder leads the team with 29 hits including three doubles.

COMING UP: RETURN OF THE WAC
The Aggies hit the road for their next conference contests as the team takes on Grand Canyon for a three-game series. A doubleheader awaits NM State on Friday, April 13, beginning at 6 p.m. MT, from the GCU Softball Stadium. The series finale against the Lopes is slated to begin at 6 p.m. on Saturday.