HUNTSVILLE, Texas – NM State kicked off its first conference road series of the season as they faced off with Sam Houston at the Bearkat Softball Complex on Friday morning. The Aggies (12-11, 2-2 CUSA) used some powerful performances at the plate to tally a 6-2 win over the Bearkats (11-14, 0-4 CUSA).
 
Offensively, Desirae Spearman and Devin Elam combined to go 5-for-7 at the plate while recording five RBIs. Spearman's day included a pair of singles and a two-RBI home run while Elam added two singles and three RBIs to her season total.
 
In the circle, Jaileen Mancha went five and a third while recording five strikeouts and giving up two earned runs. After Mancha's exit, Emily Dix entered the game to record the save while throwing 1.3 scoreless innings.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
The early first pitch caused by the impending rain seemed to cause the Aggies no problems as they struck first via a two-out RBI single from Devin Elam who found herself in the starting lineup for just the fourth time this season. Elam's single brought home Desirae Spearman who stood on second after tallying a leadoff base hit.
 
Meanwhile, Aggie starter Jaileen Mancha also turned in a strong start – giving up just one hit while striking out three of the six batters she faced through the first two innings.
 
The Aggie bats came through again in the top of the third as back-to-back singles through the left side of the infield produced three runs for the visitors donning the crimson tops with grey bottoms. In the third, Dezianna Patmon continued her strong stretch as she brought home Jayleen Burton. With Patmon at second following a stolen base, Elam delivered once again as her second hit of the game drove home both Spearman and Patmon to extend the Aggies' lead to four runs.
 
Sam Houston then pulled back within striking distance following a two-run home run in the bottom of the third inning. Mancha then returned to form to allow just one hit across the next 11 batters she faced.
 
With both sides unable to add to their run total in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings, NM State carried a two-run advantage into the seventh inning. In the seventh, NM State added a pair of insurance runs as Spearman tallied her team-leading seventh home run of the season. After entering the game in the sixth inning, Emily Dix notched the save as she held the Bearkats scoreless in the sixth and seventh to help the Aggies pick up the win.
 
NUMBERS OF NOTE

• Freshman Desirae Spearman recorded her third three-hit game of the season while notching her seventh home run of the season. On the season, Spearman is now slashing .484/.529/1.226.
• After posting her second multi-hit game of the season, Devin Elam is now riding a three-game hit streak. She also recorded a season-high three RBIs.
• Dezianna Patmon represented the third Aggie to finish with multiple hits as she turned in a pair of base knocks to account for her sixth multi-hit game of the year.
• Jaileen Mancha's five strikeouts matches her career high – a number she also reached against Nebraska earlier this season.