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Faith Aragon allows one run in complete-game victory at LA Tech.
Source: NMSU Athletics
Story and Photo By Matthwe Knope for NMSU: Courtesy
RUSTON, La. – NM State Softball took down LA Tech for a second straight time on Saturday, improving to 2-0 in conference play and 14-10 overall. NM State was led by another solid showing in the circle, with Faith Aragon going the distance and allowing just one run across seven innings. NM State took the lead in the fourth inning and never looked back, prevailing by a final score of 3-1. The defeat dropped the Bulldogs to 11-11 overall and 0-2 in league action.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Kathy Rodolph elected throw Faith Aragon into the circle, drawing a matchup against freshman counterpart Laney Johnson of LA Tech. Similarly to Friday, both sides got off to a slow start in the first inning, courtesy in part to Aragon tallying three strikeouts. Both droughts carried into frame two, with neither team advancing a runner into scoring position.
After a 1-2-3 top half of the third, LA Tech struck first in the home side. After a Claire Raley bunt single, a triple on the next pitch brought in the Bulldogs’ first run of the weekend.
Aragon wasted no time cutting into the deficit, driving a double to left field on the first pitch of inning four. After Kristiana Watsonwalked in the ensuing at-bat, Lauren Garcia drove in Aragon via a single up the middle. Two batters later, Skye Johnson entered the contest as a pinch hitter, with two runners on base. The true freshman recorded a hit for the third straight game, blasting the first pitch to left-center field, notching her first-ever extra-base hit.
LA Tech tallied a hit in the ensuing frame, but the runner was caught stealing second base. Faith Aragon suffered a similar fate in the fifth after a bunt single of her own, before heading to the circle for the bottom half. A walk and a single threatened to alter the 2-1 score, but three straight flyouts brought the sixth inning to life.
A pair of Bulldog errors placed Kristiana Watson and Lauren Garcia at the corners ahead of Kendal Lunar. The catcher approached the batter’s box with no outs, sending a 1-0 pitch out to right field and scoring Watson. Despite a later hit from Tamara Carranza, the stanza ended without additional damage and the Aggies in front 3-1.
A Bulldog double in the sixth inning was not capitalized on, giving the home team one final chance to score. A one-out walk was followed up with a single as the Bulldog faithful came to life in the seventh inning.
Faith Aragon, with other plans, flexed her clutch gene in the circle. The sophomore struck out the next batter on three pitches, before ending the game with a swinging strikeout on the fifth pitch of the at-bat. Aragon’s 109th pitch was also the 73rd strike, sealing her eighth strikeout to set a season high and match her career best.
NUMBERS OF NOTE
- NM State now leads the all-time series against LA Tech 21-15.
- After taking the second-ever CUSA meeting between the two in Ruston, La., NM State improved to 6-9 on the road in the series.
- The win vaults the Aggies to 2-2 in true road games this season.
- Through the first 21 contests this season, NM State had won just once when scoring five or fewer runs. The Crimson & White have now won three straight games, scoring five or fewer runs in each.
- Faith Aragon matched her career high and established a new best in her time with the Aggies, striking out eight opponents.
- Tossing 7.0 innings, the two-way sophomore notched her second complete game of the season.
- At least one Aggie has recorded a multi-hit game in 21 of 24 games this season.
- Since dropping five straight games from Feb. 21-28, Kathy Rodolph‘s bunch has claimed victory in five of their last six outings.
- Payton Nicholson’s base knock in the third inning was the fourth of her Aggie career. The sophomore transfer came around to score later in the inning on a single from a pinch-hitting Skye Johnson.
- Skye Johnson’s fourth inning RBI double to left field was the third hit of her career. All three have come in the past seven days, beginning last Sunday against Alabama A&M.
- The left-field double was the first extra-base hit of Johnson’s true freshman campaign, resulting in her second career RBI.
- In 22 non-conference games, NM State allowed its opponents to score 127 runs for an average of 5.77 per contest. In two CUSA games thus far, the Aggies have allowed just one run to the tune of 0.50 per night.
FROM THE FIELD
Head Coach Kathy Rodolph, on the win: “I feel like Faith [Aragon] came out and really pitched a great game that we could defend behind her. Kendal [Lunar] was really working hard for us behind the plate. Offensively, I feel like we were able to put enough pressure in key situations to grab the lead. I see us growing and new people emerging, so I believe that the strength of our team is depth.
I’m really liking the leadership that I’m seeing coming out of this team. Kayla [Lunar] was a great leader for us today. Tamara [Carranza] has a lot of games under her belt at shortstop as a freshman, so it’s great to see her stepping up against a talented offensive team. I like what I’m seeing and we just have to do more of it.”
Sophomore pitcher Faith Aragon, on her performance in the circle: “I think my mentality was a lot better, especially comparing myself to how I had been throwing. I really think I got over a hill in this game. My defense is a big deal to me and the team, and I think that helped today. Having a mindset of focusing on one pitch at a time is what keeps my composure where I need it. It’s all about not dwelling on your last pitch while also not looking ahead past the one in front of you.”
Head Coach Kathy Rodolph, on what it will take to earn a third win on Sunday: “We have to continue to pitch well in the circle. I think we’re seeing Desirae and Faith have come out and really pitched great games for us this week where the team could defend behind them. Any time LA Tech got some momentum, they were able to shut it down. It starts in the circle and I’m excited to watch it tomorrow.
UP NEXT
The series between the Aggies and Bulldogs wraps up tomorrow, March 9. The two sides will square off at 10:00 a.m. MT (11:00 a.m. CT) in the series finale from Dr. Billy Bundrick Field. The Aggies will look to clinch a road sweep with the action streamed live on ESPN+ and available to follow via nmstatestats.com.
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).
