LAS CRUCES, N.M. - After sharing the Sun Belt Conference for five seasons, NM State will now reunite with FIU for the two sides' first conference matchup in nearly two decades. FIU is 16-21 overall, but most recently took two of three from UTEP in Miami. The Panthers have posted 32 runs across their last five contests, falling just twice, both of which came in extra innings. The Aggies will look to get back to their winning ways, having posted losses in five of their last six.
How to Follow
Who: FIU (16-21, 4-8 CUSA) at NM State (21-15, 7-5 CUSA)
Where: NM State Softball Complex - Las Cruces, N.M.
When: Friday, April 12 - Sunday, April 14 (Game 1 at 6:00 PM MT)
Live Stream: ESPN+ (Friday/Saturday)
Live Statistics: nmstatestats.com
Radio: 91.5 FM KRUX (Sunday)
All-Time Series Record: FIU leads 16-8
Last Meeting: NM State 5 @ FIU 11 (Feb. 27, 2021 - Clermont, Fla.)
LAST TIME OUT
NM State fell to Arizona in both stints of a doubleheader at home on Tuesday. The Wildcats renewed their interconference rivalry with the Aggies, now playing in 14 consecutive seasons, with the exception of the shortened 2020 campaign. Arizona entered off a solid weekend in Utah, taking the final two of a three-game set with the Utes. The visitors carried that momentum into Las Cruces, taking down the Aggies via a six-inning run rule both times.
The Aggies posted three home runs, with one apiece from Devin Elam, Dezianna Patmon and Jillian Taylor. The Crimson & White fell to 14-8 at home this season, but are 13-5 against non-Power Five opponents.
Head Coach Kathy Rodolph is just one win shy of 600 as the leader of the Aggies. She will look to snap a recent skid and reach yet another milestone on Friday night when taking on the Panthers.
PATMON POWER
The Aggies' first-ever CUSA win in program history came on Saturday, March 9. The benchmark victory was highlighted by one of the best individual performances by an Aggie in recent history as Dezianna Patmon finished the day 2-for-3 at the plate, including a grand slam to help produce six of the Aggies' nine runs. The six-RBI day for the transfer from North Carolina A&T marked the most RBIs by an Aggie in a single game since Nikki Butler recorded a half-dozen RBIs on April 16, 2021.
Patmon is leading the Aggies with 42 hits and 73 total bases, while ranking second with 27 RBIs this season. The junior is also second in home runs (8) and third in OPS (1.128).
FRESHMAN PHENOM
Along with Patmon, freshman standout Desirae Spearman has been a shining star in the Aggie lineup. In just her first 25 games at the collegiate level, Spearman is maintaining a .423 batting average while pacing the Aggies in home runs (12), OPS (1.546), RBIs (30), total bases (73) and ranking third on the team in total hits (30) despite missing 13 of the Aggies' 38 games due to injury.
Additionally, the El Paso, Texas, native has been dominant in the circle. She has begun the season with a 6-2 record and 46 strikeouts while maintaining a 2.88 ERA in 10 appearances and 48.2 innings of work.
On Feb. 16, Spearman tossed a complete game, shutout victory over Nebraska when she gave up just one hit and led the Aggies to a 3-0 win. In the series finale versus UTEP, she went another 7.0 innings, punching out 12 Miners and securing a win in her first pitching appearance in 35 days.
Currently, Spearman is posting a team-best ERA, allowing just 39 hits and eight home runs. She also ranks second in the conference and 32nd nationally with her 12 total offensive home runs despite missing over a third of the Aggies' games due to injury.
FEAR NONE
In February, the Aggies opened the annual Troy Cox Classic with a victory over Big Ten foe Nebraska to mark the program's first win over a Power Five program since the 2020 season when the Aggies defeated the same Nebraska program twice.
The following week, the Aggies added to their list of impressive early victories as they defeated (RV) Grand Canyon on Friday evening before knocking off Arizona State on Sunday morning to tally their second Power Five win of the season and first win over a Pac-12 program since 2020.
NEW YEAR, NEW CONFERENCE
In 2023, the Aggies finished 21-25 overall, with a 10-14 mark in WAC play. On July 1, 2023, NM State joined Conference USA, and will be a first-year member of the league in 2024. Also new to the conference are Jax State (ASUN), Liberty (ASUN) and Sam Houston (WAC). FIU, LA Tech, Middle Tennessee, UTEP and Western Kentucky are the five returning members of the conference.
GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY
NM State Softball played its first season in 1975. Now, in 2024, the Aggies entered season No. 50, with 1,144 wins and a much loftier reputation. The program was the class of the WAC for over a decade, earning six regular-season crowns and four conference tournament championships. Softball was NM State's second women's team sport and has brought 10 championship trophies home to Las Cruces. This May, the Aggies will look to win the CUSA Tournament Championship on their home soil.
LEGENDARY STATUS
Entering her 21st season as the Aggies' leader, Head Coach Kathy Rodolph is already easily the winningest coach in program history. Before Rodolph, the program had not won a championship (regular-season or tournament). Under her direction, the Aggies have claimed 10 pieces of hardware, and boast a 599-522 record. Making stops at El Paso CC and Angelo State before coming to Las Cruces, Rodolph has an individual mark of 792-617 as a head coach. At NM State, she has recruited and coached 17 NFCA All-Region members and eight WAC Player of the Year winners. With their 20th win against San Diego on March 30, the Aggies have won 20 or more games in 18 seasons under Rodolph.
CONSISTENCY IS KEY
After not seeing action in all of 2023 due to injury, Kayla Lunar became the only Aggie to start each of the first 38 games in 2024. The Alamogordo High School product has been the model of consistency, appearing at third base in every starting lineup this season. With the bat this season, Lunar has 23 hits, including six extra-base knocks and a no-doubt home run versus UTEP on March 23. The only other Aggie to appear in all 38 contests this season is Dezianna Patmon, who has started 32 games as the designated player.
BEST OF THE BEST
In the program's first year in a new conference, two Aggies have already stood out among the league. Last month, CUSA unveiled its Preseason All-Conference Team, highlighted by Riley Carley and Kendal Lunar. The pair of Aggies each put forth stellar campaigns in 2023 and will look to lead their team into new territory in 2024.
Riley Carley started all 44 games she appeared in last season, leading the team with 16 home runs and 14 walks. In her junior year, she ranked second among all Aggies in RBIs (30), batting average (.346), slugging percentage (.750) and OPS (1.012). Carley was named to the All-WAC Second Team in 2023.
As a true freshman, Kendal Lunar made quite the impression in 2023. The first-year Aggie posted six home runs and 20 RBIs with an OPS of .870. Starting 38 games in total, including each of the final 30 a season ago, Lunar is poised for a productive 2024 campaign behind the plate as a sophomore, and was selected to the CUSA Preseason All-Conference Team accordingly.
ON DECK
After the three-game series against the Panthers, NM State will make the quick trip up I-25 for its final 2024 matchup with New Mexico. The Aggies have already won the season series, taking a pair from the Lobos at home on March 26. UNM will host the game on Tuesday, April 16, with first pitch scheduled for 4:00 PM MT. The Battle of I-25 will air on Mountain West Network, with live statistics available on nmstatestats.com.
For complete coverage of NM State Softball during the 2024 season, visit NMStateSports.com – the official home of the Aggies – and follow the Aggies on Facebook (NM State Softball), Twitter (@NMStateSoftball) and Instagram (@NMStateSoftball).
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