Written By: NM State Athletic Dept.

LAS CRUCES, N.M. - The top-seeded New Mexico State softball team began play in the 2015 Western Athletic Conference Tournament by easily handling fifth-seeded Utah Valley, 13-3, in five innings on Thursday at the NM State Softball Complex.

The Aggies (43-13) only outhit the Wolverines (17-40) by one, eight to seven, but capitalized on 10 walks and a big grand slam homer by junior Fiana Finau. It was Finau’s 23rd home run of the season, leaving the Chula Vista, Calif., native one home run shy of the NM State record for home runs in a season, currently held by Hoku Nohara who slammed 24 in 2011.

“I thought we did a good job of coming out and playing our brand of softball,” Aggie head coach Kathy Rodolph said. “We have stressed all year that we are just a group of players who battle moments to the best of our ability. We did that again tonight and it paid off.”  Continue Reading This Post >>

Written By: NM State Athletic Dept.

EL PASO, TX - The New Mexico State softball team wrapped up the 2015 regular season by taking two games from I-10 rival Texas-El Paso on Tuesday at the Helen of Troy Softball Complex, winning game one 5-2 before taking a nail biter 2-1 in the nightcap.

The Aggies (42-13) got great pitching performances from freshman Dallas McBride and redshirt junior Karysta Donisthorpe as both NM State hurlers went the distance and allowed the Miners (14-36) a combined three runs on Tuesday.

McBride got the win in game one to improve to 15-5 after only allowing a couple of runs on five hits. Donisthorpe, meanwhile, also only allowed five hits and reached the 20-win plateau. She did McBride one better by only allowing a single run en route to finishing the regular season at 20-4.   Continue Reading This Post >>

Written By: NM State Athletic Dept.

LAS CRUCES, N.M. - A day after clinching the Western Athletic Conference regular-season championship, the New Mexico State softball team wrapped up conference play by taking two games against Grand Canyon on Saturday, completing the three-game sweep over the ‘Lopes.

The Aggies (40-13, 14-1 WAC) won game one 6-3 before taking game two 15-5 in five innings on what was Senior Day where NM State’s five seniors, Nikki Diaz, Malena Padilla, Kelsey Dodd, Lacey Rother and Staci Rodriguez were recognized at the conclusion of the second game.

With the two wins the Aggies get to 40 wins for the first time since 2011 when they also won the WAC regular-season title and also took home the WAC Tournament crown to advance to their only NCAA Regional appearance. NM State also finished the WAC regular season with a 14-1 record, its best record in conference play in program history.  Continue Reading This Post >>

Written By: NM State Athletic Dept.

LAS CRUCES, N.M. - The New Mexico State softball team won its second Western Athletic Conference regular-season championship after defeating Grand Canyon 7-6 on Friday off of a Rachel Rodriguez walk-off single to that concluded a three-run final inning for the Aggies.

The only other time NM State (38-13, 12-1 WAC) has won a conference championship was in 2011 when it brought home its first-ever title. Grand Canyon (28-20, 9-4 WAC) still had a shot at the title coming in, but had to sweep the three games from the Aggies this weekend.

“(I’m) very proud of the team’s battle tonight,” NM State head coach Kathy Rodolph said. “It took everyone battling every pitch on both sides of the ball. As long as we continue to do that we will be where we want to be.”  Continue Reading This Post >>

Written By: NM State Athletic Dept.

BAKERSFIELD, CA - For the first time this season the New Mexico State softball team lost a Western Athletic Conference game as CSU Bakersfield upended the Aggies 3-0 on Saturday afternoon at the Roadrunner Softball Complex.

The loss drops NM State to 37-13 in 50 games this season and 11-1 in WAC play. The ‘Runners improve to 17-22 overall and 5-7 in the conference. The Aggies do leave Bakersfield, however, with a 2-1 series win.

“I thought we had another solid outing from our pitchers, but CSUB showed a tough competitive spirit today,” NM State head coach Kathy Rodolph said. “We played like we had a target on our back. We need to adjust our mindset and instead put the target on any opponent we face.”  Continue Reading This Post >>

Written By: NM State Athletic Dept.

BAKERSFIELD, CA - The New Mexico State softball team got great pitching in the circle to sweep a Western Athletic Conference doubleheader from CSU Bakersfield on Friday at the Roadrunner Softball Complex, taking game one 1-0 and game two 7-2.

The Aggies (37-12, 11-0 WAC), known for their high-power offense, used great starting pitching from Karysta Donisthorpe and Dallas McBride along with a clutch relief performance from Makayla McAdams to remain perfect in WAC games and secure the No. 1 seed in the upcoming WAC Tournament in Las Cruces.

“It was nice to secure the top seed for the WAC Tournament,” Aggie head coach Kathy Rodolph said. “However, in order to accomplish all of our team goals we need to make sure we compete pitch to pitch. Karysta and Dallas both did a great job of doing this in the circle today. I am confident we will commit to that mindset tomorrow.”  Continue Reading This Post >>

Written By: NM State Athletic Dept.

LAS CRUCES, N.M. - The New Mexico State softball team got to 35 wins on Tuesday after defeating its in-state rival New Mexico for the second time this season, a 4-2 decision at the NM State Softball Complex.

Freshman Dallas McBride, fresh off of being named the Western Athletic Conference Pitcher of the Week, started in the circle for the Aggies (35-12) and pitched five innings while only allowing four hits and two runs to improve to 11-5 on the season. McBride struck out seven Lobos (24-21), tying a career high.

Karysta Donisthorpe came on in relief and got the final six outs to receive her second save of the season.

At the plate, Fiana Finau provided all the offense NM State needed as the junior slammed her WAC-leading 19th home run of the season, a three-run shot to left field that capped off a four-run third inning, the only inning the Aggies would score in.  Continue Reading This Post >>

Written By: NM State Athletic Dept.

LAS CRUCES, N.M. - The New Mexico State softball team won both games of a doubleheader on Saturday against Missouri-Kansas City, including a come-from-behind win in game two, to sweep the three-game series and remain perfect at 9-0 in Western Athletic Conference play.

The Aggies (34-12, 9-0 WAC) won game one 8-3 behind freshman Dallas McBride who improved to 10-5 in the circle. But the big win of the day came in the nightcap as NM State was down at one point 9-3 to the ‘Roos before a Kelsey Dodd home run, her second of the game, tied the score at 9-9 in the sixth inning.

After Karysta Donisthorpe took down UMKC in order in the top half of the final inning, senior Malena Padilla hit a one-out triple to straight-away center before third baseman Emma Adams brought her home a couple of batters later with a two-out walk-off single to give the Aggies a 10-9 come-from-behind victory.  Continue Reading This Post >>

Written By: NM State Athletic Dept.

LAS CRUCES, N.M. - The New Mexico State softball team began a three-game Western Athletic Conference series with Missouri-Kansas City by defeating the Kangaroos 6-2 on Friday at the NM State Softball Complex.

The Aggies (32-12, 7-0 WAC) remain perfect in conference play while UMKC (22-22, 2-5 WAC) falls to .500 on the season.

NM State got three solo home runs from its power hitters, Kelsey Dodd, Staci Rodriguez and Fiana Finau, and outhit the ‘Roos 10-4. Dodd and Rodriguez both finished 3-for-4 at the plate, Dodd with a game-high four RBIs.

In the circle, right-hander Karysta Donisthorpe picked the win to improve to 16-4 on the season after pitching 6.2 innings while only allowing a couple of runs, four hits and striking out six. Makayla McAdams stepped in the circle in relief after UMKC loaded the bases in the final inning. McAdams got the final out of the game to pick up her first save of the year.  Continue Reading This Post >>

Written By: NM State Athletic Dept.

LAS CRUCES, N.M. - The New Mexico State softball team defeated No. 19/20 Arizona State 6-4 in game one of a doubleheader before falling 12-1 in five innings during the night cap on Monday at the NM State Softball Complex.

The Aggies (31-12) won their eighth-straight game before the streak was broken by the Sun Devils’ (25-12) win in game two. Staci Rodriguez, who was named the Western Athletic Conference Hitter of the Week earlier in the day, continued her hot hitting streak, finishing the day a combined 3-for-5 and belting two home runs, both in game one, to reach 52 on her NM State career.

Freshman Dallas McBride got the win in the opening game for the Aggies. The left-hander came on in relief of starter Makayla McAdams and pitched 3.2 innings while only allowing a single run to improve to 9-5 on the season.  Continue Reading This Post >>