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Aggies topple ACU once again; fall to No. 1 Texas by three runs.
Source: NMSU Athletics
Story and Photo By Matthew Knope for NMSU: Courtesy
AUSTIN – NM State Softball faced its toughest test of 2025 on Saturday, squaring up for a doubleheader that concluded with the nation’s No. 1-ranked Longhorns. An offensive outburst propelled a 10-7 win over Abilene Christian before NM State turned its focus to Texas. Although the Crimson & White fell 5-2, the three-run affair showed signs of promise for Kathy Rodolph‘s bunch. The split bumped the Aggie Softball to 11-10 on the season.
GAME ONE | NM STATE 10, ABILENE CHRISTIAN 7
After playing two games in the home dugout on Friday, NM State flipped to the away half of the scoreboard on Saturday. Faith Aragon, who picked up the start in the circle, first kicked off the game off at the plate, reaching safely on a bunt single. Desirae Spearman grounded into a fielder’s choice before Johnna Aragon pounded a single up the middle, advancing to second behind Spearman at third. With one out and a pair of teammates in scoring position, Kristiana Watson stepped up to the plate. The first-year Aggie uncorked the first pitch to left-center field, plating both Spearman and Aragon on a stand-up double.
The Wildcats answered in the home half of the second inning, tallying a single and a walk with just one out. Two pitches later, a double in the gap to right field scored both runners, tying the affair at two runs apiece. A pair of four-pitch walks threatened the Aggie defense, before Desirae Spearman forced two infield flyouts.
After a quiet third inning from both offenses, NM State awoke once more in the fourth. Following two straight outs, Kayla Lunarreached by being hit, Faith Aragon sent a single to left field and Desirae Spearman walked to load the bases. Johnna Aragonsingled through the left side to score Lunar and her cousin Faith. Four pitches later, Kristiana Watson picked up yet another two-run double that put her side ahead 6-2.
The Aggie lead would not last long, however, as a leadoff double prompted a pitching change. A hit batter and three more hits, including another double, came across over the ensuing six batters, scoring two runs and loading the bases. Another walk preceded an RBI single that tied the contest at six runs all ahead of an inning-ending strikeout.
NM State worked more two-out magic in the fifth. Both Lunar sisters picked up singles before Faith Aragon loaded the bases on a walk. A defensive error on a Desirae Spearman fielder’s choice brought both Kayla and Kendal around to score, giving the visiting dugout an 8-6 edge.
Joleeanna Hair made a lifetime memory in the sixth inning. The true freshman, who entered the starting lineup for the third time, watched a ball go by before unloading on a 1-0 pitch. The ball was the first from the Aggies to clear the outfield wall of Red & Charline McCombs Field all weekend, as well as the first for Hair in her young collegiate career. A native of Copperas Cove, Texas (66 miles away), the outfielder celebrated her achievement in front of family members in attendance.
After NM State escaped the fourth bases-loaded jam of the day, one final test awaited as it held a four-run lead to work with. A double and an error placed runners at the corners for ACU in the seventh frame, before a hit and an error on the same play plated the Wildcats’ seventh run of the game. Three pitches later, Kristiana Watson fielded a ground ball and stepped on first base to hand the Aggies their second-straight win by a score of 10-7.
GAME TWO | NM STATE 2, #1 TEXAS 5
Jaileen Mancha took to the circle after a 1-2-3 Aggie inning, earning her third start of the season. The senior posted an impressive showing on the road against the highest-ranked team in the land, retiring seven straight Longhorns en route to a scoreless tie and a one-hitter through two frames.
In inning three, Texas struck first after a leadoff lineout. Four straight singles came just seven pitches apart, plating the first run of the finale. Mancha escaped the jam with a strikeout in the next at-bat, limiting the damage to a one-run deficit.
Faith Aragon ended Texas’ bid at a no-hitter from the top of the order in the fourth stanza, dropping a 1-1 pitch into left field. Nothing came of the leadoff baserunner, though, as was the case for Texas in the bottom half.
In the bottom of the sixth, Texas would deal the majority of its blow, leading off with a single before a walk and a pair of stolen bases put two runners in scoring position. A two-run double ensued two pitches later, tripling the Texas lead. Just two more pitches passed before a deep drive over the left field wall brought two more Longhorns around to score.
Facing a 5-0 hole, NM State responded well offensively. Faith Aragon reached once again on a hard-hit ball to shortstop before Desirae Spearman’s left-field shot placed a pair in scoring position. Johnna Aragon stepped up to the plate, delivering on her duties as designated player with a single to left field. The hit scored both Johnna’s cousin Faith and Spearman, cutting the deficit nearly in half. An ensuing strikeout closed the frame, but the Aggies made the nearly 1,500-person crowd uneasy by pulling within three runs.
After yet another 1-2-3 inning from Mancha in the sixth, NM State was down to its final three outs. In the final chance for a historic Crimson & White upset, a pair of groundouts came before a game-ending strikeout, finalizing a 5-2 score in favor of the home team.
NUMBERS OF NOTE
- NM State now leads the all-time series against Abilene Christian 6-1, standing at 2-0 in neutral games.
- The Aggies now trail the series to Texas by a tally of 1-2, dropping the first-ever game in Austin between the two squads.
- In each of the first 13 games in which the Aggies scored this season, they hit at least one home run. Now, the Aggies have scored without tallying a four-bagger in six of the past seven contests.
- At least one Aggie has recorded a multi-hit game in all but three games this season. The bout with Texas was the third such instance of 2025 for NM State.
- Joleeanna Hair blasted the first home run of her career in the sixth inning against ACU, tallying her second and third RBIs on the third hit of her collegiate tenure. The deep shot came in front of family as part of a weekend in which the true freshman came within 66 miles of her hometown in Copperas Cove, Texas.
- Johnna Aragon entered the day without a multi-hit game in her two-year career. The first-year Aggie racked up three base knocks against the Wildcats, tallying two RBIs in addition to a walk.
- The sophomore also tied a career high with two runs in the contest.
- Later, against Texas, Aragon picked up another hit, scoring two teammates for her second multi-RBI game of the day.
- Kayla Lunar’s outing versus the Wildcats was the third two-hit game of her season, tying a mark that she has only surpassed once in her career; at home against UTEP last season.
- In the same game, Kristiana Watson tied a career high with three hits, doing so for the fourth time in collegiate action.
- In Saturday’s opener, Watson notched two separate doubles that scored two Aggies apiece. The Duke transfer leads the team in doubles (nine) and is tied for the team lead in RBIs (26).
- The Aggies stand at 3-4 in neutral contests and 4-4 following losses this season, with chances to improve on both metrics tomorrow.
- NM State entered the morning averaging 6.63 runners left on base per game. On Saturday, the Aggies stranded 13 runners, including 11 against ACU.
- Seven different Aggies recorded a hit against ACU. That number fell to three against Texas.
FROM THE FIELD
Head Coach Kathy Rodolph, on the Aggies’ Saturday showing: “I feel like we had been playing a little bit fearful and not aggressive in attacking. That’s our game, though. I feel like what made me so proud today was how we got pushed, then we pushed and fought back. That’s what I’ve been waiting to have happen for a couple weeks, and it couldn’t have come at a better time with conference next week.
Head Coach Kathy Rodolph, on final adjustments ahead of CUSA action: “I really wanted to have a lot of experience from the pitchers in the circle to be able to have a staff of five. Going into three game series, I think that bodes well for us. I wanted to see our defensive communication and aggression really settle down and get cleaned up. I believe it has. I really wanted to see us start to pass the bat offensively with confidence because we know we’re a good hitting team. I’m excited to see where we go as a group tomorrow and into next week.”
UP NEXT
The Longhorn Invitational comes to a close tomorrow at Red & Charline McCombs Field with one final game for NM State. The Crimson & White will battle Alabama A&M, who holds an 8-5 record, at 9:00 a.m. MT. The battle with the Bulldogs is the last before NM State enters CUSA action and will be available to follow via StatBroadcast.
For complete coverage of NM State Softball during the 2025 season, visit NMStateSports.com – the official home of the Aggies – and follow the Aggies on Facebook (NM State Softball), Twitter (@NMStateSoftball) and Instagram (@NMStateSoftball).
