LAS CRUCES, N.M. – The New Mexico State softball team heads to El Paso, Texas for the UTEP tournament featuring IUPUI, Omaha and UTEP. The Aggies get underway at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 21, against IUPUI.
 
Follow Along
Live stats link will be available on the schedule page when made available.
 
Quick Hits

• The Aggies rank seventh nationally in runs per game (8.0), second in slugging percentage (.657) and lead the country in home runs per game (2.5).
• Freshman Matalasi Faapito leads the WAC in batting average (.542) and Nikki Butler ranks second (.522).
• Matalasi Faapito and Ramsay Lopez are the only two freshman nationally to rank top-15 in slugging percentage. Lopez (1.174) ranks fifth while Faapito (1.208) ranks third.
• Faapito and Lopez rank first and second respectively for slugging percentage in the WAC.
• The Aggies lead the WAC in batting average (.333), slugging percentage (.653), on base percentage (.431), runs scored (64), RBI (59) and home runs (20).

 
Scouting the Jaguars
The Jags sit at 2-3 on the season after taking part in the Rambler Rumble to open their season. This is the first meeting between NM State and IUPUI.
 
IUPUI freshman Rachel Gregory burst onto the scene, hitting .615 to lead the team and slashing .615/.706/.692. Jaida Speth also had a strong start to her season with a .462/.563/.769 slash line.
 
Kayana Diederich, another freshman, has been impressive in the circle so far for the Jags. In 14 innings pitched, she's posting a 1.29 ERA and a 1.14 WHIP. Against Evansville, she threw a complete game, allowing just two runs with three strikeouts.
 
Scouting the Mavericks
Omaha is sitting at 5-4 overall and has already surpassed its win total from last season when it finished 4-43. Last weekend, the Aggies and Mavericks split a four-game series 2-2.
 
Allison Helton is hitting .429 to lead Omaha and her .500 on base percentage is also tops on the team. Emma Dargy has also flashed her bat as she holds the team lead in home runs (5) and hit two against the Aggies.
 
Sydney Hampton has been solid in the circle, with a 2.72 ERA in 28.1 innings pitched. However, the Aggies scored 10 runs against Hampton in two games against her last weekend.
 
Up Next
New Mexico State stays on the road and heads to Las Vegas for the Boyd Gaming Classic from Feb. 28- March 1. The Aggies will take on Houston, UNLV and UTEP.