First Pitch
After a down year in 2022, the Aggies started off their 2023 campaign on the right foot - picking up three wins to open the season before falling in their final contest of the NM State Invitational.
 
During the 3-0 start, NM State combined to bring 28 runs across the plate while hitting .368 and rattling off six home runs and nine doubles.
 
Before heading back to Las Cruces to host the Troy Cox Invitational, NM State travels to East Texas to take part in the I-35 Classic hosted by Texas State and UTSA. NM State is slated to compete in five games across three days against four opponents (Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, South Dakota St., UTSA and Texas State).
 
The 3-1 start marks the best start since 2020 and represents the fourth time since 2016 that the Aggies have won at least three of their first four games.
 
Lunar Playing Out of This World
During opening weekend, the Aggies' offense was led by freshman standout Kendal Lunar who finished the weekend slashing a team-best .556/.556/1.111.
 
Despite appearing in only three of the Aggies' four games, Lunar finished tied for the team lead in hits with five. All five of Lunar's hits were also doubles, placing her first in the conference and second in the nation in doubles this season.
 
Aggie Accolades
Graduate student Kayla Bowen was named to the Preseason All-WAC team as the lone representative for the Aggies. Last season, Bowen earned Second Team All-WAC honors after hitting .369 with 11 home runs and 41 RBI. She paced the team in hits (59), doubles (13), and total bases (105).
  
Covering the Bases
The Aggies return a strong core of players at the batter's box and in the circle, led by 2022 WAC 2nd Team selections Kayla Bowen and Jillian Taylor. For her efforts with the glove, Taylor was also named to the 2022 WAC All-Defensive Team. On the year, Bowen hit .369 with 11 home runs, 13 doubles and 41 RBI. Taylor led the team in batting average (.376), while collecting 47 hits, seven home runs and nine doubles; she was also solid with the leather, recording 82 putouts with five assists, along with turning a pair of double plays.
 
NM State's infield looks to provide a productive season on both sides of the field, with a pair of starters coming back for another season and an impact transfer from within the conference. Jayleen Burton is coming off a sophomore season where she produced 17 hits and a trio of RBI while providing strong defense from the shortstop position. Paige Knight transferred in from the prestigious Oklahoma program ahead of the 2022 season, and made an instant impact as an Aggie, batting .284 and launching seven home runs with 25 RBI.
 
Coming in from UT Arlington, junior Jessica Carreon is looking to be a spark plug for the Crimson & White offense. Last season as a Maverick, Carreon started every game, recording 17 runs scored, seven multi-hit games, led the team in walks drawn (21) and swiped nine bases.
 
In the outfield, Gabby Aragon looks to build on a productive season that saw the now-junior from Carlsbad make 31 appearances for the Aggies, collecting nine RBI and five extra base hits, while providing 26 putouts and a pair of assists.
 
Laurali Patane and Jordin King return for the 2023 season after accounting for 72% of innings pitched, 69% of total strikeouts and 85% of the wins at NM State to lead a staff that include junior college transfers Ana Rodriguez, Emily Dix and Aydenne Brown.
 
Behind the plate sophomore Hannah Lindsay looks to build upon a strong freshman campaign, which saw her record the third-highest batting average on the team (.341), while crushing eight home runs and totaling 21 RBI.
 
Legend in the Dugout
Kathy Rodolph has had a remarkable career as head coach at NM State. Entering her 20th season at the helm, Rodolph is the winningest coach in NM State history with a 556-480 record. She's led the team to four WAC Tournament Championships and six WAC Regular Season Championships, the most recent coming in the 2021 season when the Aggies went 14-4 in conference play.
 
She is also a five-time WAC Coach of the Year. She has helped the Aggies capture eight WAC player of the year awards and a pair of WAC Freshman player of the year awards. Additionally, Rodolph has helped 17 players earn NFCA All-Region Team Honors.
 
History vs. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi
The Aggies have squared off against the Islanders 10 total times in their history, with NM State leading the head-to-head series with a 6-4 record.
 
The two sides first met in 2000 and have yet to collide since 2014. The Aggies' last win over Texas A&M-Corpus Christi came in 2008 when they shut out the Islanders to go on to win 9-0 in Las Cruces.
 
History vs. South Dakota St.
Friday's meeting denotes the first time in program history that the Aggies will take on the Jackrabbits.
 
History vs. UTSA
This weekend will also be the first time that the Aggies share the field with the Roadrunners.
 
History vs. Texas State
NM State and Texas State have matched up a total of 22 times. Currently, the Bobcats hold the edge over the Aggies - winning 12 of the 22 contests.
 
The two squads will be familiar with each other as they met twice in Las Cruces just last year. The Aggies fell in both 2022 matchups, however, NM State had won four straight games against Texas State prior to last season.