LAS CRUCES, N.M. – The New Mexico State softball team heads to Tempe, Ariz., for the Arizona State invitational where it will take on Wright State, Arizona State, Oregon State, Nebraska and Lehigh. The Aggies get the tournament underway against Wright State on Friday, March 6, at 4:30 p.m.
 
Follow Along
Live stats link will be available on the schedule page when made available.
 
Quick Hits

• The Aggies rank 15th nationally in batting average (.340), 10th in on base percentage (.436), fifth in runs per game (7.82) and lead the nation in home runs per game (2.24) and slugging percentage (.655)
• Nikki Butler leads the WAC in batting average (.479), hits (23), RBI (20) and is tied with Matalasi Faapito and Ramsay Lopez for the lead in home runs (7).
• Lopez leads the WAC in slugging percentage (1.026) and on-base percentage (.582).
• The Aggies lead the WAC in batting average (.340), slugging percentage (.655), on base percentage (.436), runs scored (113), RBI (122) and home runs (38).

 
 
Scouting the Raiders
On Wright State currently sits at 5-8 overall and is coming off an 11-5 loss to Presbyterian on March 1. The Raiders open the ASU Invitational against Arizona state and Oregon State on March 5.
 
The Raiders have been solid offensively, hitting .307 for the year with a .463 slugging percentage. Wright State has hit 11 home runs and added 20 doubles. Emily Daniel has enjoyed a breakout freshman season, hitting .515 to lead the Raiders. Freshman Payton Baxter leads the squad in home runs at five.
 
Wright State has struggled in the circle, compiling a 6.71 team ERA through 11 games this season. Olivia Otani has spent the most time in the circle for the Raiders, tossing 35.0 innings this season. She also has the team's lowest ERA at 6.20.
 
A Look at the Sundevils
Arizona State enters this weekend's action as the 17^th-ranked team in the NFCA/US Today Coaches Poll with a 16-6 record and took down Maryland 16-2 in its last game. ASU opens the tournament against Wright State on Thursday, March 5.
 
The Sundevils have impressed offensively this season and rank in the top-10 in a number of offensive categories nationally. Arizona State ranks eighth in scoring (7.64), fifth in doubles (40) and home runs (1.64), fourth in slugging percentage (.619) and second in walks (93). Kindra Hackbarth is the top hitter for the Sundevils, slashing .424/.506/.773 with four home runs, nine doubles and 22 RBI.
 
ASU has been solid in the circle, with three pitchers throwing at least 25 innings with a sub-4.00 ERA and have a team ERA of 2.70. Cielo Meza leads the way with an 8-2 record and a 2.02 ERA. Meza ranks 24^th nationally with 81 strikeouts on the season.
 
Scouting Oregon State
The Beavers have a 14-7 record and are receiving votes in the NFCA/USA Today Coaches Poll. Oregon State went 4-2 in a tournament at Hawaii in its last weekend of action.
 
Oregon State boasts one of the top pitching staffs in the nation led by Mariah Mazon. As a team, the Beavers hold the third-lowest ERA in the nation at 1.30 and have the ninth-best strikeout-to-walk ratio at 4.28. Mazon has enjoyed a great season on the mound with a 0.90 ERA. She ranks second nationally in shutouts (5) and fifth in strikeouts (9).
 
However, the Beavers are only hitting .252 on offense with a team slugging percentage of .360. Mazon also leads OSU in batting average with a .377 average.
 
A Look at Nebraska
The Huskers are 8-10 overall with an 8-7 win over Wichita State in its last outing. The Aggies beat Nebraska 11-6 to open the season at the Troy Cox Classic. Nikki Butler went 3-4 with a home run and two RBI in the win.
 
Nebraska is hitting .279 as a team and is led by Tristen Edwards with a .417 batting average. Edwards is slugging .933 and has hit eight home runs with 16 RBI this season.
 
The Huskers have struggled to be consistent in the circle with a team ERA of 6.03 and a .326 batting average against. Olivia Ferrell is Nebraska's top pitcher with a 4.17 ERA in 50.1 innings.
 
Scouting the Mountain Hawks
Lehigh heads to Tempe with a 6-4 record including a win over #24 James Madison in Raleigh, N.C. The Mountain Hawks are set to open the tournament on Saturday, March 7, against Nebraska.
 
Gabriella Nori was impressive in the circle early in the season, posting a 0.70 ERA but has not appeared in a game since Feb. 15 against St. Joseph's. Parker Boyd has also been solid with a 2.73 ERA in 33.1 innings pitched. Parker holds a 4-2 record with 29 strikeouts.
 
Lehigh hits .289 with a .398 team on-base percentage. Emily Cimino has been great as a freshman, batting .469 and reaching base 50-percent of the time. She also leads the team in home runs (4) and RBI (11).
 
Up Next
NM State travels to Norman, Okla., for the Oklahoma Tournament from March 13-15 against Kent State, Oklahoma and Houston.