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National outlet tabs true sophomore as No. 64 player and fourth-best pitcher/utility star.
Source: NMSU Athletics
By: Matthew Knope
Photo By John Knope for NMSU: Courtesy
LAS CRUCES, N.M. – After earning national recognition earlier this month, Desirae Spearman climbed even higher this week. D1 Softball released its preseason top 100 players list, in addition to ranking its top stars at the pitcher/utility position. The publication’s release of the best athletes in the nation for this upcoming campaign included NM State’s own Desirae Spearman coming in at 64th on the list. The dual-threat star occupied one of Conference USA’s two slots, in addition to being named the nation’s fourth-best athlete at her position.
Last year, Spearman put together a season for the ages. As a true freshman, the El Paso, Texas, native was named CUSA Player of the Year, CUSA Freshman of the Year, CUSA All-Tournament Team, All-CUSA First Team (Pitcher), All-CUSA First Team (Outfielder), CUSA All-Freshman Team, TUCCI/NFCA Division I National Freshman of the Year Top 25 List, CUSA Pitcher of the Week (March 25) and five-time CUSA Freshman of the Week.
In 2024, Spearman maintained a .365 batting average while pacing the conference in home runs (18), OPS (1.321) and ranking in the top three with 43 RBIs. The Hanks High School product also ranked second on the team in total bases (109) and fourth on the team in total hits (46) despite missing 14 of the Aggies’ 55 games due to injury. The two-way star held a remarkable .794 slugging percentage in league games; higher than any other batter. Spearman ranked 23rd in the nation and led the league with 18 home runs, including a conference-high 12 in CUSA play.
The Hanks High School product posted three multi-home run games, including two in conference play. Her most recent two-home run outing came at top-seeded Liberty on April 20, when she also tossed a complete game and held the Flames scoreless through 6.2 innings. Against Nebraska, Spearman went the distance again and allowed just one hit in a monumental 3-0 upset victory.
In the circle, Spearman was equally as dominant. She boasted an 8-4 record and racked up 75 strikeouts while maintaining a 3.15 ERA in 17 appearances across 84.1 innings of work.
Conference USA was one of six leagues to place multiple student-athletes on the 100-player list. Spearman was joined by Liberty’s Rachel Roupe, after the Flames’ star wound up on the 2024 All-CUSA First Team en route to an NCAA Tournament berth.
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D1 Softball also ranked 15 standouts at the pitcher/utility position. Spearman finished as the fourth-highest star, behind Ole Miss’ Aliyah Binford, Indiana’s Brianna Copeland and North Florida’s Allison Benning. On Feb. 22, NM State will clash with Florida and Ava Brown, who occupied the seventh-best pitcher/utility spot on the list.
Spearman and the Aggies will open their season on Friday, Feb. 7, from the NM State Softball Complex. An opening-day doubleheader against UC Santa Barbara and Colorado State will commence the NM State Invitational in what is set to be the 51st season in school history. This spring, the program is in pursuit of its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2018.
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).
