Faith Aragon was in the zone. New Mexico State's sophomore pitcher allowed a combined 10 earned runs on 14 hits in her last two appearances and was eager for a bounce-back game against Sam Houston. Called upon for the second game of the Aggies' three-game home series against the Bearkats on Saturday, March 29, 2025, she delivered in style. Aragon pitched her best game of the season, throwing a six-inning shutout with a career-high nine strikeouts, leading NM State (20-14, 7-4 Conference USA) to an emphatic 8-0 run-rule victory over Sam Houston (17-18, 6-5) and clinching the series victory.
The Aggies had already won the first game 8-4 on Friday, March 28, and Aragon was determined to keep the momentum going. She showcased her pitching prowess, effectively keeping the Bearkats guessing with her pitch locations. Sam Houston managed only three hits against her, a testament to Aragon's command on the mound. "I think I was just really able to move the ball all over the plate," Aragon said post-game. "When I have that spin, that is when I have the best results."
Aragon started strong, retiring the first six batters she faced and recording eight of her nine strikeouts in the first four innings. Meanwhile, the Aggies struggled at the plate early on, scoring just one run in those initial four innings. However, Aragon's stellar performance kept the Bearkats at bay until the Aggies exploded for seven runs in the final two innings.
NM State head coach Kathy Rodolph praised Aragon's confidence and ability to challenge batters even without early run support. "I feel like she was working ahead and hitting her spots as well as bearing the speed of her pitches," Rodolph said. "She didn't walk a single player, and so she definitely believed that her movement was good enough to get them out." Aragon's impressive showing improved her ERA to 4.45, marking her seventh pitching win of the season.
Devin Elam played a crucial role in the Aggies' offensive output. She drove in the game's only run through the first four innings with an RBI single in the third. Elam was instrumental in breaking the game open, contributing a two-run double that extended the Aggies' lead to 3-0 in the fifth inning. Following Elam's double, Riley Carley added an RBI single, and Kristiana Watson capped off the inning with another two-run double off the right field wall.
Elam noted the adjustments the team made to Sam Houston pitcher Kendall Daniel's off-speed pitches. "I feel like we just made an adjustment," Elam explained. "She was throwing a pretty nasty drop on off-speed stuff, and Coach Rodolph told us, 'Stay behind the ball.' I think we really did a good job making an adjustment for that."
Desirae Spearman, another key player for the Aggies, had to wait until the sixth inning to make her mark, as Daniel walked her in her first three trips to the plate. When she finally got a pitch to hit, Spearman delivered, blasting a walk-off two-run home run into left-center field to seal the run-rule victory for NM State. Rodolph commended Spearman's patience and her ability to seize the moment when it counted. "I feel like she's really owning her moments," Rodolph said. "She's welcoming the pressure and taking whatever the game requires."
Spearman's ability to draw walks has been a significant factor in the Aggies' lineup this season, as she leads Conference USA with 35 walks. This strategic advantage is why Rodolph has placed Elam in the second spot in the batting order. "I put Devin in the two-hole behind Desirae Spearman because I need somebody if they're gonna continue to walk her," Rodolph explained. "We need somebody that's gonna make them pay a price, and I believe in Devin's ability to make people pay a price."
Looking ahead, the Aggies will play the final game of their home series at 11 a.m. on Sunday, March 30, 2025, before traveling to face rival UTEP (12-19, 2-10) for their next three-game series starting at 6 p.m. on Friday, April 4, 2025. As they prepare for the upcoming matches, NM State currently sits fourth in the Conference USA standings, trailing Liberty, Florida International, and Louisiana Tech.
In other notable games, Hillsboro starter Nathan Matoush struck out 10 of the first 11 batters he faced on March 31, 2025, in a game against Staunton. However, Staunton junior Reese Bohlen stole the show by pitching a no-hitter and striking out 17 batters, leading the Bulldogs to a 7-0 nonconference victory over the Hiltoppers. Staunton improved to 4-3-1, while Hillsboro fell to 1-7.
Bohlen's performance was remarkable, as he struck out at least two hitters in every inning, including striking out the side in the second, fourth, and fifth innings. He walked two batters and hit another before retiring the final 10 Hillsboro batters he faced, eight of whom went down by strikeout. The Bulldogs scored their runs in the fourth inning, capitalizing on Matoush's earlier strikeouts. Carter Legendre's one-out walk was followed by two-out singles from Aiden Saracco, Drake Billings, and Ashton Rizzi, who drove in runs to give Staunton a 2-0 lead.
Matoush, despite his impressive strikeout numbers, went 3 2/3 innings, allowing two runs on three hits and two walks while striking out 11 batters. In 9 2/3 innings pitched in March, Matoush has maintained a remarkable 0.72 ERA, striking out 27 of 38 batters faced.
As the season progresses, teams are beginning to find their rhythm, with players stepping up and making significant contributions. The Aggies and Bulldogs are just a few examples of how exciting and unpredictable the world of college sports can be.
