Friday, May 5 | 4 p.m. MDT (DH)
Game 1: Live Stats | Watch
Game 2: Live Stats | Watch 

Saturday, May 6 | 4 p.m. MDT (DH)

Game 3: Live Stats | Watch 

First Pitch
The Aggies return to the NM State Softball Complex for their final series of the season, welcoming the Abilene Christian Wildcats for the first time in program history. NM State is coming off a series sweep at the hands of Stephen F. Austin this past weekend, their final road series of the season.

On the year, ACU is 15-34, with a 9-12 mark in WAC play – one game ahead of the Aggies in the hunt for a conference championship birth. Most recently, the Lumberjacks took on Abilene Christian, where the 'Jacks dropped the three-game series after falling in games one and two before taking the 10-0 (5 inn.) on Saturday.

Bowen's Box
Kayla Bowen has flat out dominated from the batter's box this season, especially over the last month. The fifth year Aggie has hit safely in 19 of her last 21 games and currently leads the team in nearly every hitting category: Batting average (.383), slugging percentage (.800), on-base-percentage (.452), runs batted in (32), hits (46), runs scored (35), total bases (96) and walks (13) – and is second on the squad in home runs with 12.

Bowen recently became the first player since Nikki Butler (April 2021) to earn back-to-back WAC Hitter of the Week awards, recording 11 hits, five home runs, 12 RBIs and a pair of doubles in three-game series against Grand Canyon and Sam Houston - including a walk-off home run to take the series from GCU.

Rockin' Riley
After becoming a key starter on last season's squad, Riley Carley has had a breakout campaign for the Aggies in 2023. The redshirt junior from Tucson has improved in a majority of offensive statistical categories, from batting average (.339, +.057 from 2022) to OPS (1.120, +.246), hits (43, +8), home runs (14, +5), slugging percentage (.724, +.200) and improved discipline at the plate (21 strikeouts, -12).

Beyond the confines of the NM State Softball Complex, Carley ranks 19th in the country in home runs per game (0.34) - the second best mark in the conference. She also ranks 28st in the nation in home runs (fourth best in the WAC) and slugging percentage (51st in the nation, fifth in the WAC).

Power at the Plate
As is tradition at NM State, the Aggie offense is one of the best at hitting the long ball. Thus far the Aggies have combined to hit 68 home runs, averaging 1.58 per game – the sixth best mark in the nation and first in the WAC. The Aggies have hit a home run in 34 of their 43 games this season, going 19-15 in games where they record at least one home run, and an 0-9 record in games they don't.

Dix Dealing in the Circle
Impact transfer Emily Dix continues to embark on an impressive first season with the Aggies, picking up her third save of the season in the win over UTEP on March 5.

Her three saves on the year rank 49th in the nation and second in the WAC - totaling more saves than the Aggies as a team during the entire 2022 season.

Five Runs, More Fun
It's pretty simple; when the Aggies score runs, they win games. This season, the magic number for NM State appears to be five - After their series with Sam Houston, the Aggies sit at a 16-3 record in games they record at least five runs. However, the Aggies struggle when they fail to reach that number, tallying a record of 3-21 in which they produce four runs or fewer.

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).

Most recently, Bowen was named WAC Hitter of the Week (April 10th) for the second consecutive week, following an impressive showing against Sam Houston in which she put up three home runs and eight RBIs while recording a slash line of .667/.750/1.778 in nine at-bats.

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. Taylor was also named to the 2022 WAC All-Defensive Team for her efforts with the glove. 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 immediate 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 includes 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 576-504 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 Wildcats

Abilene Christian sports a 15-34 record overall, with a 9-12 mark in conference play – good for ninth in the WAC, one game ahead of the Aggie's 8-13 record. The Wildcats boast an 8-10 home record, but carry a 3-15 mark when they play the visitor. ACU has lost four of their last contests, including a 10-0 run rule defeat at the hands of Stephen F. Austin.

Mercedes Eichelberger paces the team in batting average (.329), while also leading the team in hits (47). Avery Miloch leads the team in home runs with 13, and ranks second on the team in RBIs (30).

Talia Nielsen serves as the top pitcher for the Wildcats, sporting a 9-13 record and 4.55 ERA with ten complete games over 135.1 innings pitched. Combined with Riley White (3-12, 7.65 ERA, 61 walks allowed), the duo have recorded 80% of the pitching staffs wins, 75% of the innings pitched, 76% of the team's strikeout total and 55% of walks allowed.

History vs. Tarleton

This weekend marks the first time these programs will meet on the softball diamond.