LAS CRUCES, N.M. – The New Mexico State softball team hits the road for the first time this season as the squad takes on elite competition at the prestigious Mary Nutter Classic from Feb 21-24. The Aggies are set to face off against No. 17 Oregon, North Carolina, Missouri, California, and Ohio State at the tournament, which takes place at Big League Dreams in Cathedral City, Calif.
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HORTON HITS A BOOM
Kelsey Horton continues to climb in the career record books during her senior campaign. The slugger sits in second for home runs (58), third in total bases (430) and fourth for runs scored (171) and RBI (178).
LEADER OF THE WAC
Outfielder Victoria Castro leads the Western Athletic Conference in several statistical categories heading into the Mary Nutter Classic. The senior's .600 batting average and 1.360 slugging percentage is a league best. She also sits in first for on-base percentage (.714), total bases (24), runs scored (14), and walks (10).
RANK IT UP
The Aggies received votes in the latest National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) / USA Today poll as well as the ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate weekly poll. Last season, the team was on the national radar following opening weekend when New Mexico State took the series from ranked Kentucky.
Heading into the Mary Nutter Classic, each team NM State is set to face was mentioned in the polls. Oregon comes in ranked 17th in both national polls while North Carolina, Missouri, Ohio State and Cal are all receiving votes.
REVISTING THE TROY COX CLASSIC
The Aggies posted a 3-2 record at the Troy Cox Classic. The team defeated Texas State 7-3 to open the tournament and also picked up wins over Montana (6-3) and Bradley (8-7). In the first contest against the Braves, NM State fell 4-3 and the squad also came up short in the game against San Jose State (3-1).
KNOW YOUR FOE: NO. 17 OREGON
Oregon enters the tournament with a 7-2 overall record for the 2019 season. The Ducks went 5-0 to start the season at the Kajikawa Classic but fell to James Madison and Kentucky at the St. Pete/Clearwater Elite Invitational last weekend. The team is batting .343 while also posting a 4.88 ERA.
Individually, Jordan Dail leads the Duck pitchers with a 2.85 ERA and a 5-0 record in the circle. The sophomore has thrown three complete games and has 46 strikeouts so far. At the plate, Cherish Burks leads the team with a .432 batting average. Rachel Cid and Hannah Galey are first on the Oregon squad with three home runs each.
TRACKING THE TARHEELS
North Carolina comes in at 5-3 on the season with wins over Northwestern and Michigan last weekend. UNC is set to face Oklahoma State, Kentucky and Utah before taking on the Aggies at the Mary Nutter Classic. The squad posts a 4.88 ERA as team while also batting .286 on the season.
Kiani Ramsey comes in with a .462 batting average and 12 hits for 2019. Of those 12, two have been for extra bases. Britany Pickett posts a 1.71 ERA for the Tarheels accompanied with a 4-0 record. In her 31.2 innings pitched, the junior posts 24 strikeouts and has only surrendered one home run.
SCOUTING THE BEARS
With Diane Ninemire at the helm, Cal posts a 5-5 record for the 2019 season. The team posts victories over ranked then-ranked No. 23 James Madison and Notre Dame, who was receiving votes in the NFCA poll. The Golden Bears are batting .228 as a team and the pitchers post a 2.91 ERA.
In the circle, Kamalani Dung leads California with a 2-2 record and 26.2 innings pitched. Zoe Conley posts 30 strikeouts for a squad-best. Offensively, Lindsay Rood bats .484 with a .571 slugging percentage to lead the Golden Bears.
LOOKING AT THE TIGERS
Mizzou softball enters the tournament with an 8-2 record for the 2019 season. The Tigers are riding a six-game winnings streak after defeating Kansas before going undefeated at the Citrus Blossom Classic. The team is batting .325 on the season with a 0.86 ERA.
Madi Norman comes in with the most innings pitched at 33.0 and the redshirt senior posts a 0.64 ERA on the season. Cassie Gasper posts a 0.00 ERA fallowing just nine hits in 16.1 innings. Kimberly Wert paces the Mizzou squad with four homers so far and the infielder also has a .394 batting average for the season.
BREAKING DOWN THE BUCKEYES
Ohio State comes in at 4-4 on the season after starting the season 3-0 with wins over George Mason, Ole Miss, and North Florida. Last weekend, the team dropped three-of-four with the lone win coming in five innings against Utah. As a team, the Buckeyes are batting .251 and the team also has a 2.20 ERA.
Emily Clark leads Ohio State with three homers and 10 RBI for the season. Her .696 slugging percentage is also a squad best. In the circle, Kay Duvall is 1-1 with a 1.62 ERA and 15 strikeouts. Morgan Ray posts a squad-best 17 strikeouts and 21.0 innings pitched.
COMING UP: NO PLACE LIKE HOME
Following the tournament, the Aggies return home to host No. 14 Arizona in a midweek doubleheader. The contests are set for 3:30 pm and 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 5.
