LAS CRUCES, NM - The NM State softball team (18-16, 3-3) put together a solid all-around game in its 8-1 win over Grand Canyon (15-18, 4-2) on a steamy, Saturday afternoon at the NM State Softball Complex. The win gave the Aggies the series victory and are now 3-3 in WAC play.

The NM State bats picked up right where they left off Friday night with three runs in the first inning. Matalasi Faapito started the inning off with a double, and Nikki Butler drove her home on a RBI single. The Aggies loaded the bases after back-to-back singles from Maya Martinez and Gabby Aragon. Briana Gallegos hit a hard ground ball that was too much for the shortstop to handle, and the Aggies took an early 3-0 lead. Grand Canyon got a run back in the second, but Faapito began to settle in, retiring seven straight batters before being pulled in the fifth inning.

Back-to-back singles from Antuanett Dean and Faapito gave the Aggies more cushion in the third inning increasing its lead to four. The Aggies struck again in the fifth inning off a two-RBI single by Kayla Bowen to extend the lead to 7-1. Jillian Taylor drew a walk with the bases loaded bringing home a run. Chloe Rivas shut down the Antelopes in the final three innings, allowing just two hits in 2.2 innings of work. 

Faapito and Rivas allowed a combined four hits with Faapito earning the win to improve to 6-7 on the year. Eight Aggies recorded hits, as Faapito, Butler and Bowen each had a multi-hit game. 

The Aggies will take a quick break from WAC play when they head to Tucson next Friday and Saturday to take on ninth-ranked Arizona and Team Mexico. The Aggies will play two games against each team with the games against Team Mexico being counted as an exhibition. Games will be played a 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. on Friday and noon and 6 p.m. on Saturday. All times are mountain. 

For updates throughout the season, follow the Aggies on Twitter (@NMStateSoftball), Instagram (@nmstatesoftball) and Facebook (NM State Softball).
 

• The Aggies picked up its first WAC series win of the year and is the first time the Aggies have won a WAC series since May 4, 2019, when they swept CSU Bakersfield.
• The Aggies improved to 11-0 on the season when holding its opponent to two runs or fewer. 
• Kayla Bowen extended her career-long hitting streak to 13 games.
• Matalasi Faapito is currently on a 11-game hitting streak. 
• After struggling to start the season, Ramsay Lopez went on a terror this weekend going 6-for-10 against the Antelopes.