LAS CRUCES, N.M. – The New Mexico State softball team continues the 2019 season with the Troy Cox Classic from Feb. 15-17. The Aggies welcome Texas State, Bradley, Montana and San Jose State for the annual tournament. Fans can stream Sunday's contest against the Braves on the WAC Digital Network.
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WEEKLY WARRIORS
Samaria Diaz earned her first ever Western Athletic Conference weekly honor following a stellar weekend in the circle. Diaz began her 2019 campaign with a pair of wins and a save, helping the Aggies to a 4-0 opening weekend. She posted a 0.88 ERA and 12 strikeouts, allowing just one run on four hits over 8.0 innings. The pitcher opened the season by striking out three out of the four batters she faced against New Mexico on her way to a save. Against UTEP, she pitched 3.1 innings in relief, allowing just two hits while striking out five. She allowed two hits and surrendered her only earned run against Creighton, when she also had four strikeouts in 3.2 innings pitched. Diaz also held opponents to a .133 batting average over her three appearances.
REVISTING THE NM STATE INVITATIONAL
The Aggies posted an undefeated record at the NM State Invitational this weekend. The squad defeated Creighton 11-4 in the season opener and 9-1 in the tournament finale. New Mexico State also conquered rival New Mexico 9-8 and earned the 12-3 victory over UTEP in five innings.
HORTON HITS A BOOM
Kelsey Horton continues to climb in the career record books following the first weekend of the season. The senior sits in second for home runs (57) and fourth for runs scored (166), total bases (418) and RBI (177).
KNOW YOUR FOE: TEXAS STATE
With Ricci Woodard at the helm, Texas State comes into the tournament with a 2-2 record after hosting the Bobcat Classic to start the season. As a team, the TXST is batting .257 with a .301 slugging percentage. The pitchers, under the guidance of associate head coach Cat Osterman - a former three-time National Player of the Year, four-time All-American and two-time Olympic medalist, hold a 2.66 ERA for 2019.
Hailey Mackay comes in with a squad-best .417 batting average while slugging .750. Of her five hits, the junior has a double and a home run. Dalilah Barrera posts a .068 ERA with a 2-0 record to lead the Bobcat pitchers. With 10.1 innings of work, the junior allowed just one run on six hits while striking out 13.
LOOKING AT BRADLEY
Bradley comes to the City of Crosses with a 1-4 record for 2019. The lone victory for the Braves came against Seattle U at the Kajikawa Classic. Down by a run in the bottom of the seventh, an error by the Redhawks right fielder allowed three runners for Bradley to score, handing the Braves the victory in walkoff fashion.
Individually, Grace French leads the squad with a 0.81 ERA despite having a 0-1 record in the circle. The freshman recorded four strikeouts and allowed just 10 hits in her 8.2 innings of work. On offense, Lucy Mead bats a team best .313. In her 16 at-bats, the freshman has five hits including a triple.
TRACKING THE GRIZZLIES
Montana posts as 1-4 record on the season. The Griz opened the season with a win against Santa Clara at the Norcal Kickoff but fell in the remaining four contests at the tournament. As a team, Montana posts a .219 batting average and a 4.04 ERA.
Maygen McGrath leads the team at the plate, batting .385 with five hits including a triple. She also leads the squad with a .538 slugging percentage. Colleen Driscoll holds a 4-0 record and a 2.17 ERA for 9.2 innings of work. Maddy Stensby leads the Grizzlies with nine strikeouts during her 11.1 innings pitched.
SCOUTING THE SPARTANS
San Jose State comes into the tournament with a 3-3 overall record. After posting wins against Southeastern Louisiana, Northern Illinois and Mississippi Valley State, the team fell once to Southern Illinois and twice to Nicholls State. The Spartans are batting .231 on the season with a 2.55 squad ERA.
Individually, Makayla Englestad is batting .583 with a .750 slugging percentage to lead the squad. She posts seven hits, six runs and a pair of doubles. In the circle, Carley Morfey posts a 0.00 ERA for her 1.2 innings pitched. Chrys Hildebrand leads the squad with nine strikeouts and 8.1 innings of work.
NM State and SJSU were set to play a pair of contests at the tournament but the game set for 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 17, has been cancelled.
COMING UP: MARY NUTTER CLASSIC
Following the tournament, the Aggies head to the Golden State for the prestigious Mary Nutter Classic. The team is set to face Oregon, North Carolina, California, Missouri and Ohio State from Feb. 21-24.
