LAS CRUCES, N.M. – New Mexico State softball hosts No. 13 Texas Tech for a doubleheader at the NM State Softball complex on Tuesday. First pitch from the midweek tilt is slated for 4 p.m. MT. Fans that cannot make the final home games of the season can view both contests for free on the
WAC Digital Network.
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HORTON HITS A BOOM
Nationally,
Kelsey Horton ranks first in career home runs (67), third in career total bases (499), fifth in RBI (199) and sixth for runs scored (199).
The senior continues to climb in the NM State career record books. The slugger is record holder for total bases, runs scored and home runs. Horton also ranks second in hits (249) RBI, doubles (45) and sacrifice flies (11).
WEEKLY WARRIORS
Mya Felder and
Samaria Diaz were named the Western Athletic Conference Hitter and Pitcher of the Week, respectively, the league announced on Monday. This was Felder's second honor during her freshman campaign and the third honor of the season and career for Diaz.
Felder hit .636 with a 1.727 slugging percentage and a .714 on-base percentage as the Aggies went 4-0 last week. She was 7-of-11 with six extra-base hits – three doubles and three home runs – and 19 total bases. The freshman scored seven runs, had seven RBI while also recording three walks. She posted hit in each of the Aggies' four games, including three multi-hit contests. Felder opened the week with a pair of homers at New Mexico and also posted a long ball in the series opener against Kansas City. During Saturday's doubleheader against the Roos, she tallied three doubles.
Diaz went 3-0 with a save and a 1.33 ERA in four appearances last week. She tossed three complete games and tallied 40 strikeouts over 21.0 innings pitched. Diaz threw a pair of one hitters at New Mexico and in the series opener against UMKC where she also had 11 strikeouts in each of those games. During the first game of the twin bill Saturday, she earned up the save, going 2.0 innings with five strikeouts while allowing just one run on four hits. In the series finale against the Roos, Diaz tied her career-high with 13 strikeouts. With Saturday's save, she moved her season total to six, extending her program record, and her career total to 10, which ranks second in the NM State record books and fourth in the conference.
LAST TIME OUT
The Aggies swept UMKC for the squad's first sweep of a league opponent this season. Diaz pitched a one-hit shutout in the series opener.
Analise De La Roca earned the win when NM State took down the Roos 12-10. Diaz picked up her third win of the week with the team's 11-6 victory in the series finale.
On Senior Day, all three Aggie seniors hit home runs during Saturday's doubleheader.
Victoria Castro sent the ball over the centerfield fence during the squad's first victory of the day.
Kennedy Johnson started the finale with a three-run homer while Horton hits a two-run shot during the third inning.
SCOUTING NO. 13 TEXAS TECH
No. 13 Texas Tech comes to the City of Crosses with a 35-12 overall record and an 8-10 mark in Big 12 play. The Red Raiders are batting .335 while the pitchers post a 2.78 ERA. TTU was swept by No. 12 Oklahoma State during its last series with each game being decided by just one run.
Karli Hamilton leads the Tech offense, batting .433 during her 47 games played. The redshirt junior post a squad-best 68 hits with 10 doubles, six triples and seven home runs. In the circle, Missy Zoch is 15-8 with a 2.30 ERA for the season. The junior leads the pitching staff with 143 strikeouts this season. Following close behind is Erin Edmoundson, who holds a 2.61 ERA with 129 strikeouts.
COMING UP: REGULAR-SEASON FINALE
Following the doubleheader against TTU, NM State hits the road for its final WAC series. New Mexico State heads to CSU Bakersfield for a single game at 3 p.m. on Friday, May 3, followed by a doubleheader on Saturday, May 4, beginning at 2 p.m.
