LAS CRUCES, N.M. – The Aggies returned to the Bearkat Softball Complex on Sunday afternoon seeking the sweep of Sam Houston after picking up wins on Friday and Saturday. All it took was one run as the Aggies tallied a 1-0 victory to move to 14-11 overall and 4-2 in league play. Meanwhile, Sam Houston falls to 11-16 on the season and 0-6 in CUSA play.
 
Jaileen Mancha secured her fourth win of the season as she pitched a seven-inning complete-game that included four strikeouts and no walks. Additionally, Mancha allowed just five hits on the day.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
For the first time this weekend, the Aggies were held scoreless in their first at-bat despite putting two runners on base. NM State did still find a way to get on the board first as Desirae Spearman improved on her impressive weekend with an RBI double to bring home Jessica Carreon from first in the top half of the third inning.
 
Meanwhile, Jaileen Mancha and the Aggie defense took care of business to hold the Bearkats without a run through three innings of action. The low-scoring affair continued into the sixth inning with the Aggies clinging onto a one-run lead.
 
With the Aggies unable to produce any additional runs, Mancha continued her solid day as the final six batters she faced were retired in the order they stepped up to the plate. This included back-to-back strikeouts to close out the game.
 
NUMBERS OF NOTE

• The complete game thrown by Jaileen Mancha marks the third of the season for the junior from Las Cruces and the eighth thrown this year by the Aggie pitching staff as a whole.
• With a double, freshman Desirae Spearman extends her hitting streak to three games while also marking her third straight game with at least one RBI.
• Likewise, Dezianna Patmon finishes the weekend with a one-hit day to push her hit streak to three games and remain the Aggies' leader in batting average among players with at least 45 at-bats. Patmon is also now amid a seven-game reached base streak.
• The win marks the Aggies' first sweep in CUSA play while also representing the first road sweep in league play since 2021 when the Aggies took three from Utah Tech.
• NM State now moves to 4-0 all-time in road games against Sam Houston while also moving to 5-2 in road games this season.
• The 1-0 victory marks the first time the Aggies have picked up a win while scoring just one run since 2019 when they knocked off Grand Canyon in eight innings during the WAC Tournament.