Press Release
NM State Softball Celebrates Senior Day with 5-2 Victory Over Middle Tennessee
Las Cruces, N.M. – In an emotionally charged matchup on Saturday, the NM State Softball team secured a crucial 5-2 win against Middle Tennessee, marking their second consecutive victory. The game served as a celebration of Senior Day, honoring five graduating players, including the notable return of 21st-year Associate Head Coach Cat Heifner.
Senior Jaileen Mancha took the mound, showcasing an impressive performance with four strikeouts in her 4.1 innings. The Aggies, now 11-12 in Conference USA play, capitalized on strong offensive contributions, including home runs by Kristiana Watson and Taylor Nicholson. The win puts NM State ahead of MTSU in the conference standings due to a one-game lead.
The game’s early innings were dominated by pitching, with both teams struggling to find scoring opportunities. The Aggies broke the deadlock in the third inning after a fielding error from the Blue Raiders allowed Desirae Spearman to score. However, Middle Tennessee quickly responded with a home run from Jana Want, tying the game at 1-1.
Nicholson regained the lead for NM State with her own home run shortly thereafter. Watson followed suit in the fifth inning, hitting her 13th home run of the season, extending the lead to 4-2. The Aggies rounded out their scoring in the sixth with a double from Lauren Garcia.
In a sentimental moment, fifth-year senior Kayla Lunar made a pinch-running appearance, her first since dealing with injuries throughout her career. As the game concluded, Faith Aragon struck out the final batter, securing the team’s fourth series win of the season.
The two teams will face off again on Sunday for the final game of the series, starting at 11:00 a.m. MT. The Aggies look to complete a series sweep, while MTSU aims to avoid a second sweep in the 2025 season.
For continued updates, visit NMStateSports.com.
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