LAS CRUCES, N.M. - For the first time in a little over one year, NM State games will be played in Las Cruces.

In an announcement made Wednesday evening, NM State athletics officials announced that Aggie athletic competitions would be returning to Las Cruces. The news comes shortly after the state of New Mexico released its updated Red to Green county designations which indicate the number of COVID-19 cases within each of the state's counties.

With the announcement, the NM State baseball team will play host to WAC foe Dixie State for a four-game league series on Friday, Saturday and Sunday of this week. The Aggies' women's soccer team will play the first of its two games against WAC foe UTRGV at University Field in El Paso, Texas, this Thursday due to game officials travel plans before returning to the NM State Soccer Athletic Complex for Saturday's 11:30 a.m. match against the Vaqueros.

NM State's volleyball team will make its return to the Pan Am Center for their WAC matches against Tarleton State Monday (March 15) at 3:00 p.m. and Tuesday (March 16) at noon. No fans will be allowed at those matches due to current state restrictions.

Doña Ana County, where NM State is located, moved from a "red" county (a county with a new COVID-19 case incident rate of greater than 8 cases per 100,000 inhabitants during the most recent two-week period and an average percent of positive COVID-19 test results over the most recent 14-day period greater than 5%) to a "yellow" county (a county with either a new COVID-19 case incidence rate of no greater than 8 cases per 100,000 inhabitants during the most recent two-week period, or an average percent of positive COVID-19 test results over the most recent 14-day period less than or equal to 5%).

Under current state COVID-19 restrictions, large entertainment venues in "yellow" counties may operate with 25% of maximum capacity of any outdoor space on premises. Large indoor entertainment venues are not permitted with the limited exception of operating up to 25% of maximum capacity for recording and broadcasting entertainment without any in-person audience

"On March 11, 2020, our NM State softball team beat UNM 4-3 and almost one year to the day later we will have our first home Aggie athletic contest which is remarkable when you think about it," commented NM State director of athletics Mario Moccia. "I am very happy for our student-athletes, coaches and the Aggie fans who have so patiently waited for this day to come. As we prepare to host home athletic contests with limited attendance, social distancing in the stands and a finite amount of tickets available for each competition, our staff appreciates the patience and understanding of Aggie Nation while we get used to this "new normal.""

A limited number of tickets will be available for each of NM State's baseball games this weekend. To secure tickets, fans must purchase them at the gates of Presley Askew Field on the days of each game. Ticket sales will begin one hour before the start of each day's games. All fans in attendance must wear masks and follow all social distancing guidelines at all times. Concessions will not be available, so as a result fans will be able to bring in food and beverages with the exception of alcohol and coolers.

For the NM State women's soccer game set to take place at the NM State Soccer Athletic Complex Saturday at 11:30 a.m., similar measures will be in place for those fans who wish to attend. To secure tickets, fans must purchase them at the entrance of the NM State Soccer Athletic Complex on the day of the game. Ticket sales will begin at 10:30 a.m. Saturday morning. All fans in attendance must wear masks and follow all social distancing guidelines at all times. Concessions will not be available, so as a result fans will be able to bring in food and beverages with the exception of alcohol and coolers.

For complete coverage of Aggie athletics throughout the remainder of the 2020-21 academic year and beyond, visit NMStateSports.com - the official home of Aggie athletics - and follow NM State athletics on Facebook (NM State Aggies), Twitter (@NMStateAggies) and Instagram (@NMStateAggies).

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