By Sydney Huber
LAS CRUCES, N.M. —The Aggies softball team closed out their conference opening weekend with three straight wins against Louisiana Tech University at home, improving their league play record to 3-0.
GAME ONE
NMSU started its Conference USA slate on Friday, March 6, with a groundbreaking performance, tallying an impressive 14 runs on 14 hits to record a run-rule win over LA Tech in Las Cruces.
The Aggies scored in each of the first four innings, launching five home runs and maintaining control throughout the league opener. Faith Aragon earned the victory in the circle and contributed one of NM State’s early home runs to help set the tone for the decisive win.
NMSU set the tone immediately as Devin Elam and Aragon went back-to-back in the first before a five-run third blew the game open. The offensive surge carried on with home runs from Jade Valladares and Taylor Baca in the third inning, and a two-run blast by Kendal Lunar in the fourth. Aragon struck out six in 3.0 scoreless innings to secure the win, while the Aggies played clean defense with zero errors.
Final Score: NM State 14, LA Tech 5 (5 inn.)
GAME TWO
The Aggies continued their road to victory with a one-run win over LA Tech in Game Two on Saturday, March 7.
In a thrilling back-and-forth matchup, NM State and LA Tech exchanged early leads until the Aggies staged a late rally to clinch a high-scoring victory. After falling behind in the first inning, NM State responded with a powerful six-run second inning, highlighted by a grand slam by Elam and a two-run homer from Tamara Carranza.
Trailing 14-8 as they entered the bottom of the sixth, the Aggies launched an impressive comeback, scoring seven runs. Key contributions came from Lunar, Mackenzie Jones, Madi Bachman, and Destan Burks, who delivered the go-ahead RBI double. Aragon closed out the game in the seventh inning, securing the win and improving NM State’s record to 2-0 in CUSA play.
Final Score: NM State 15, LA Tech 14.
GAME THREE
On Sunday, March 7, they completed their weekend with an impressive all-around performance, defeating LA Tech and earning a three-game sweep.
The Aggies started strong with a three-run first inning, added insurance runs in the middle innings, and relied on dominant pitching to maintain control throughout the game. With this victory, NM State moved to 3-0 in conference play as they kicked off their league schedule.
The Aggies established early momentum as Elam led off with a single, followed by Aragon, who hit a two-run home run. Johnna Aragon then added an RBI single, making the score 3-0 after the first inning. Lunar doubled home Faith Aragon in the second inning, and NM State extended its lead further in the fifth with RBI hits from Skye Johnson, Johnna. Aragon, and Carranza.
In the circle, Faith Aragon controlled the game from start to finish, striking out a total of nine batters while allowing only six hits and one run.
Final Score: NM State 7, LA Tech 1.
The Aggies continued winning in their first meeting of the season against UNM, defeating the Lobos 9-1 Tuesday, March 10, in Las Cruces. That will be followed by another weekend triple header on the road at Sam Houston, March 13-15.
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