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Five Aggies to be recognized on Saturday for Senior Weekend.
Source: NMSU Athletics
Story and Photo By Matthew Knope for NMSU: Courtesy
LAS CRUCES, N.M. – For the final time in 2025, NM State Softball will play at home this weekend. The Aggies are set to welcome Middle Tennessee for a crucial three-game set as both teams look to get back into Conference USA’s coveted top six down the stretch of the regular season. On Saturday, the hosts will recognize five graduating Aggies during their Senior Day ceremony. The Blue Raiders (10-11) sit one game ahead of the Crimson & White in the league standings with six contests remaining before the CUSA Championship.
HOW TO FOLLOW
Who: Middle Tennessee (23-24, 10-11 CUSA) at NM State (22-24, 9-12 CUSA)
Where: NM State Softball Complex– Las Cruces, N.M.
When: April 25-27 | Friday (6:00 PM MT) / Saturday (4:00 PM MT) / Sunday (11:00 AM MT)
Live Stream: ESPN+
Live Statistics: nmstatestats.com
All-Time Record vs. Middle Tennessee: 8-24
Under Kathy Rodolph: 6-10
All-Time Record in Las Cruces: 6-12
Last Meeting: NM State 3 @ MTSU 4 – May 5, 2024 (Murfreesboro, Tenn.)
Current Streak: MTSU, 2 wins (since May 4, 2024)
LAST TIME OUT
On Tuesday, NM State visited No. 13 Arizona for a doubleheader. The hosting Wildcats were held to just three runs in the opener before an offensive explosion in a 13-0, five-inning game two. The Aggies failed to plate a run against two of the Big 12’s best pitchers, dropping to 1-10 in their past 11 outings.
THE SENIOR CLASS
This weekend, five graduating Aggies will be recognized for their contributions to the program. NM State will honor Taylor Nicholson, Kristiana Watson, Jaileen Mancha, Kayla Lunarand Riley Carley after the conclusion of Saturday’s game versus MTSU.
The quintet has combined for 329 at-bats, 98 hits, 64 RBIs and 43.0 innings pitched this season while making 157 combined appearances. Carley is the most experienced Aggie, making 193 appearances in her six-year NM State career thus far. Lunar is in her third season with the program, while fellow former Eastern Arizona teammate Jaileen Mancha joined one year later. Watson and Nicholson are each being recognized at the end of their lone season with the program after making two prior Power Four stops apiece.
WELCOME BACK, COACH
This spring, NM State has been playing with pink ribbons on the back of every helmet in honor of Associate Head Coach Cat Heifner. The 21st-year Aggie hitting coach spent the first 11 weeks away from the team while battling cancer. After arriving back in Las Cruces earlier this week, Heifner made her return to practice on Thursday and will be back in the dugout for the first time in 2025.
SHE DOES IT ALL…
Heading into April, Desirae Spearman was named as the third-best two-way player in the country by Softball America. The true sophomore was not only last year’s CUSA Freshman of the Year, but her remarkable campaign as a pitcher and outfielder won her Player of the Year honors in the league as well.
This season, Spearman has delivered just as well in the circle. Despite missing three games this season, she still ranks second on the team in innings pitched (91.0) behind only Faith Aragon (107.2) for the team lead. The El Paso native still paces the Aggies in both strikeouts thrown (89) and ERA (3.69). In 17 starts, the two-way star has amassed nine victories, placing her in a tie for seventh among all CUSA pitchers in 2025.
At the plate, the second-year Aggie has staked a clear claim as the best hitter in CUSA, ranking among the nation’s top 12 in six different offensive categories. She paces the conference in home runs (17), walks drawn (42), slugging percentage (.991), on-base percentage (.606) and OPS (1.597) despite ranking 58th in at-bats (109).
ALL OR NOTHING
Over their past nine outings, NM State has posted 12 runs for an average of 1.33 per night. Of the last 11 Aggies to cross the plate, all but two have come via a home run. During the nine-game sample size, the Crimson & White offense has produced a .232 overall batting average, but that number dips to .204 when excluding its seven long balls.
The Aggies’ offensive woes have produced 10 losses in their last 11 contests, turning what was a promising 8-4 start to CUSA play into a 9-12 mark. The slide has the squad on the outside looking in at the six-team league tournament field, needing a solid showing in the last two weeks of the regular season to make a trip back to Bowling Green, Ky., for a postseason appearance.
AGGIES OF THE WEEK
NM State added some hardware on March 31, courtesy of Faith Aragon. The sophomore standout was named CUSA Pitcher of the Week after tossing two complete games against Sam Houston as the Crimson & White swept the Bearkats. Across 13 scoreless innings, first-year Aggie allowed just six hits and one walk while striking out 15 batters, including a career-high nine on Saturday. Aragon picked up her second career honor after earning the same distinction once with UTEP a season ago.
Last month, Devin Elam returned from an eight-game injury absence and made an immediate impact that earned her CUSA Co-Hitter of the Week honors. The 2024 All-CUSA First Team selection posted a .600 batting average as she racked up six hits in three outings against Jax State, leading the offense to another series win. With a walk, two doubles and a home run, Elam notched 11 total bases and a 1.736 OPS. For the week, the California native tallied seven RBIs to pace an NM State offense that scored 26 runs in a 3-1 week that began with a rivalry win over New Mexico.
After the opening week of the season, Lauren Garcia earned similar recognition. The UNM transfer posted a team-high .600 batting average, boosted by three walks for an on-base percentage of .667. Her squad-best eight extra-base hits resulted in a then-nation’s best 1.667 slugging percentage and an otherworldly 2.333 OPS. Conference USA recognized the remarkable weekend by tabbing Garcia as the first CUSA Player of the Week for 2025.
SCOUTING THE BLUE RAIDERS
Middle Tennessee is under the direction of Jeff Breeden, who holds a 295-378 record in his 13 seasons with the program. The Blue Raiders are out to a 23-24 start in 2025, holding a 10-11 record in CUSA play that currently has the squad in sole possession of sixth place. Last weekend, they dropped two of three contests at home against Jacksonville State.
On the field, the Blue Raiders are led by Jana Want, who headlines the offense with a .349 batting average and 34 RBIs. The pitching staff revolves around Leila Ammon, who easily paces the team with 115.1 innings pitched. The two-time CUSA Freshman of the week also leads her pitching staff with a 3.03 ERA and a .287 opponent batting average.
SERIES HISTORY
The Aggies and Blue Raiders have met 32 times in history, with MTSU holding a 24-8 record. In Las Cruces, the visitors have an advantage of 12-6, with the last such contest coming on March 10, 2015.
The two sides shared the Sun Belt from 2001-05, dating back to the first-ever meeting on April 20, 2001 in Las Cruces; a game which NM State won 2-1. After the Aggies hopped to the WAC in 2005, they did not share a conference with MTSU again until joining CUSA in July 2023 ahead of the 2024 season.
LAST SEASON’S MATCHUP
NM State visited Blue Raider Softball Field in the last week of the 2024 regular season. After a 2-0 series opening win, the Aggies fell by a 4-3 count in each of the final two contests. Devin Elam posted four hits and as many RBIs in the series, due in large part to her three-run blast in the first inning of the finale.
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).
