Games 1-4
Friday, Feb. 10 | 1:30 p.m. MT
Friday, Feb. 10 | 4:00 p.m. MT
Saturday, Feb. 11 | 1:30 p.m. MT
Saturday, Feb. 11 | 4:00 p.m. (MT)
First Pitch
Coming off a 13-38 (6-18) campaign culminating in a run to the double elimination bracket at the WAC Tournament, the NM State Softball team returns for the 2023 softball season with plenty of newcomers and returnees alike. The Aggies are predicted to finish tenth in the WAC this season, according to the WAC Preseason Coaches' Poll. Leading the Aggies in her 20
th season at the helm is five-time WAC Coach of the Year award winner Kathy Rodolph.
To open the 2023 regular season, NM State will host Colorado State and Bradley for the NM State Invitational from the NM State Softball Complex, with the Aggies playing in a quartet of games set for Friday and Saturday. The Aggies begin their season with a game against the Colorado State Rams, scheduled for 1:30 p.m., with a meeting against Bradley immediately following, tentatively scheduled for 4 p.m. On Saturday (2/11), NM State starts with a game against Bradley at 1:30 p.m., followed by another matchup with CSU, tentatively scheduled for 4 p.m. All games will be streamed live on the WAC Digital Network, and streamed over the air on KRUX 91.5 FM.
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).
Follow the Aggies
Covering the Bases
The Aggies return a strong core of players at the batter's box and in the circle, led by 2022 WAC 2
nd 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.
Scouting the Rams
Led by Jen Fisher in her 14th season at the helm in Fort Collins, Colorado State is coming off an 18-28 season, with a 9-15 record in Mountain West play. CSU was tabbed to finish fourth out of nine teams in the Mountain West preseason coaches' poll. The Rams return their top five hitters, including 2022 All-Conference outfielder Hailey Smith. Smith led Colorado State in batting average (.354) and RBI (40). CSU also returns a majority of their pitching staff, led by junior Jenna Nannen, who went 6-4 with a 3.34 ERA in 50.1 innings pitched last season.
History vs. Colorado State
The Aggies have faced off with Colorado State 19 times, with their first meeting coming in the 03-04 season, a game in which NM State fell 5-0. Overall, the Crimson & White hold a 13-6 record against the Rams, including an 8-2 record over the last ten games. Their most recent outing came on February 21, 2015 when the Aggies picked up a 7-3 win at the Diamond Devil Invitational in Tempe, Arizona.
Scouting the Braves
Bradley is led by former Texas Tech pitcher Sarah Willis, previously the Bowling Green head coach for seven season before being hired by the Braves this summer. BU recorded a 26-26 record last season, with a 13-14 mark in conference play. Bradley is tabbed to finish ninth out of 12 Missouri Valley Conference teams. The Braves return three of their top five most productive hitters from last season, including 2nd team All-MVC Selection Camryn Monteer (.314 batting average, nine extra-base hits). Grace French (2022 2nd team All-MVC, All-Defensive team) proved to be one of the most dangerous pieces on the Braves' squad, leading the team in the circle (11-10, 3.18 ERA, 134.1 IP) and at the plate (.288 BA, team leading seven home runs, 12 extra base hits).
History vs. Bradley
NM State has squared off with Bradley eight times previously, with both teams holding four wins and four losses in the matchup. The first meeting came in the 09-10 season, when the Aggies lost 4-2. The most recent matchup was played on February 7th, 2020, the Aggies winning 13-4 in a run-ruled shortened matchup. This win also marked the 500th of Kathy Rudolph's career.
