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The Aggies play to avoid a sweep on Sunday.
Source: NMSU Athletics
Photo and Story By Emilio Garcia for NMSU: Courtesy
EL PASO, Texas – NM State returned to action on Saturday night at the Helen of Troy Softball Complex for game two of three against UTEP. Despite keeping it a tight contest after falling behind 5-0 in the first inning, the NM State offense was not enough in a 7-4 loss. The Aggies fall to 8-6 on the season in CUSA play, while UTEP improves to 4-10.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Facing similarly partly cloudy and erratically windy conditions, Desirae Spearman opened her ninth consecutive game in the leadoff spot, drawing her 38th walk of the season. Later in the inning, Kristiana Watson also drew a walk, though the Aggies would ultimately strand a pair.
UTEP transfer Faith Aragon got the starting nod in the circle on Saturday, as the Miners posted five runs in the opening frame. A collision between teammates in the outfield took Desirae Spearman out of the contest early, putting Payton Nicholson into action at centerfield.
The Aggie bats awoke in the third inning, with Payton Nicholson recording a leadoff single, her fifth of the season. Devin Elam and Kristiana Watson flashed their power prowess, knocking in home runs that brought NM State within two runs, 5-3.
A trio of singles juiced the bases in the bottom of the fourth for the Miners, though a strikeout by Faith Aragon and an amazing catch by Riley Carley in right field kept the score intact.
Yesterday’s starting pitcher Serenity Jacoway put the Miners ahead 6-3 in the bottom of the fifth, though Kendal Lunar responded with an RBI sac fly to score Joleanna Hair.
Down to their final out, the Aggies leaned on fifth year Riley Carley, who launched a ball to deep right center, though just inside the park to end the game in a 7-4 decision.
NUMBERS OF NOTE
- NM State dropped into fourth place in the CUSA standings at 8-6.
- After allowing seven runs in their past five outings ahead of the series with the Miners, the Aggies have allowed 15 runs to score over two games.
- NM State fell to 42-16 all-time in matchups with the Miners, holding a 16-12 mark in El Paso.
- The Aggies are now 2-6 when allowing between six and nine runs.
- Desirae Spearman extended her on-base streak to 13 games.
- Johnna Aragon made her fifth start of the season at third base, while Taylor Nicholson tallied her third start of the season and first since Feb. 23.
- As well, Nicholson posted the first multi-hit game of her career, the only Aggie to do so on Saturday.
- For the ninth straight contest, Desirae Spearman was the leadoff batter for Kathy Rodolph‘s offense.
- NM State fell to 6-11when its opponents scored in the opening inning and 8-12 when opponents scored first overall.
UP NEXT
Conference USA’s closest rivalry will conclude tomorrow with Sunday’s first pitch scheduled for Noon MT. While UTEP secured the series victory, NM State looks to avoid their first sweep of conference action. All the action will be streamed live on ESPN+ and available to follow via nmstatesports.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). Conference USA’s closest rivalry will conclude tomorrow with Sunday’s first pitch scheduled for Noon MT. While UTEP secured the series victory, NM State looks to avoid their first sweep of conference action. All the action will be streamed live on ESPN+ and available to follow via nmstatesports.com.
