LAS CRUCES, N.M. – Returning to action at the NM State Softball Complex following a midweek sweep against rival New Mexico, the Aggies took on San Diego for an afternoon doubleheader. NM State won by a combined eight runs in the pair of games, extending its winning streak to five games. The Aggies have now won nine of 10 games and are 20-12 on the season. 

In the circle, Desirae Spearman secured her sixth win of the season in the opener, picking up a pair of strikeouts. Jaileen Mancha got the starting nod for the second half of the doubleheader, finishing a complete game of her own and earning her seventh win of the season. 

HOW IT HAPPENED

GAME ONE | San Diego 2, NM State 9

After a pair of three up, three down innings to begin the contest for both teams, San Diego tallied back-to-back hits threatening to score. Spearman got out of a bases-loaded jam, holding the Toreros scoreless after three innings. 

USD got on the board in the fourth inning, launching a solo home run to start the frame. The blast was the Toreros' fourth of the season, and Spearman's first allowed of her career. 

The home side did most of its damage in the fourth inning, putting up eight runs on four hits. All three of USD's errors in the game came in the frame, including the opening play of the inning. Out of the eight Aggies to cross the plate, only one was earned towards USD's ERA, while the errors accounted for seven unearned runs. NM State held a 9-1 lead after four innings. 

In the top of the fifth inning, San Diego got back in the run column, notching an RBI single to extend the game. Neither team scored for the remainder of the contest, leading to the final score of 9-2. 

GAME TWO | San Diego 6, NM State 7

Scoring just two runs over six innings in the earlier matchup, the Toreros matched this in the second inning of game two as EJ Joyner knocked a two-run RBI single, one of three singles for USD in the inning. In the bottom half of the second, the Aggies responded when Jayleen Burton recorded a double to score Kayla Lunar - drawing a walk to lead off the inning - to make it a 2-1 ballgame. 

Dezianna Patmon knotted things at two apiece when she launched her seventh home run of the season to left field, one of her three hits on the afternoon. Coming into the weekend without a home run on the year, San Diego's Arisa Tovar went yard in the top of the fourth inning, reclaiming the lead for the Toreros (3-2). 

Facing a deficit, the Aggies took command of the game over the next few innings, scoring five unanswered. Riley Carley tallied her first hit of the weekend with an RBI single, scoring Kayla Lunar and tying the contest 3-3. Sophomore Devin Elam came up to bat in the fifth inning, powering a single into the outfield to bring Jillian Taylor across home plate. Brianah Hamilton came in to pinch hit for Jayleen Burton, knocking a sacrifice fly to score Dezianna Patmon for her second RBI of the doubleheader. The scoring would not cease in the fifth, when a fielding error by USD allowed Kristen Boyd to reach and brought Elam across the plate. 

In the sixth inning, Kendra Levesque drilled a solo shot to dead center field, notching her fourth career home run and her first since her 2021 freshman campaign. The home run would be NM State's last and decisive run, as USD scored three in the top of the seventh inning. Ultimately, the comeback fell short as Riley Carley made a stellar reaching grab at first base to close out the contest. 

NUMBERS OF NOTE

• Picking up the win after working all seven innings in game one, Desirae Spearman recorded just two strikeouts - the first time in her NM State career she failed to record at least five strikeouts in an outing.

• Jaileen Mancha recorded her fifth complete game of the season, picking up a four strikeouts to total 42 on the season. The junior and first-year Aggie is now 7-4, with a 2.73 ERA in 20 appearances.

• Desirae Spearman allowed her first home run of the season in the circle. The freshman went 38.0 innings without giving up a long ball and now holds a 0.83 ERA on the season. 

• With the pair of wins, the Aggies secured their 18th 20-win season since Kathy Rodolph first helmed the squad in 2004.

UP NEXT

The Aggies will hit the road once again for three conference games with Jax State next weekend. The series with the Gamecocks will begin on Friday, April 5 and run through Sunday, April 7. Each game will be streamed live on ESPN+ and available to follow via nmstatesports.com.