LAS CRUCES, N.M. – New Mexico State softball faces off against CSU Bakersfield during the team's final series of Western Athletic Conference play. NM State opens the series at CSUB with a single game on Friday, May 3, at 3 p.m. MT. The Aggies close out the regular-season with a doubleheader against the Roadrunners on Saturday, May 4, with first pitch slated for 2 p.m. All three games from the series are set to be streamed 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 WAC 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 twinbill 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.
 
WHERE IN THE WAC
Overall, New Mexico State leads the league in slugging percentage (.488), home runs (58), walks (143), batters struck out (301), batters struck out looking (77) and saves (7). For WAC games, the Aggies are also first in slugging percentage (.488), home runs (17), batters struck out (117), batters struck out looking (30) and saves (3).

Individually, Felder sits atop the conference standing for slugging percentage (.708) and total bases (97) Horton ranks first in homers (13) while Diaz come in as the leader for opponent batting average (.214), batters struck out (206), saves (6) and appearances (36).  For league games alone, Horton comes in first for walks (9) and Victoria Castro's three sacrifice flies paces the WAC. Diaz also leads the conference with 91 batters struck out and 23 batters struck out looking.

LAST TIME OUT
The Aggies ended their 2019 home slate with a bang, knocking off No. 17 Texas Tech 8-2. Freshmen Kayla Bowen and Felder each posted a homer during the victory over the ranked Red Raiders. Diaz pitched a complete game and allowed two runs on three hits while striking out 10 Tech batters.

The win was the team's first victory over a ranked opponent this season. New Mexico State's last win against an opponent of that caliber was when squad upset No. 17 Kentucky at the NM State Softball Complex to open the 2018 season on Feb. 10. The Crimson and White also earned its third victory over a Power-5 opponent during its 2019 campaign, previously defeating North Carolina and California at the Mary Nutter Classic.

SCOUTING THE 'RUNNERS
CSU Bakersfield enters the weekend at 14-27 for the season with a 3-12 record in WAC play. The 'Runners post a 4.22 ERA while batting .243 in 2019. CSUB has lost seven-straight heading into the series with New Mexico State.

Cydney Curran leads the 'Runners offense, posting a .348 batting average during her 41 starts this season. The junior leads the league with nine triples this season. In the circle, Daryn Hitzel posts a squad-best 3.49 ERA with 94.1 innings pitched this season. Kiara Azevedo comes in with a 4.76 ERA but a team-high 41 strikeouts.

COMING UP: TOURNEY TIME
Following the series at CSU Bakersfield, NM State heads to Phoenix for the WAC Tournament. The post-season tournament is set to take place May 8-11 and is hosted by Grand Canyon.