NMSU softball has busy weekend as it hosts Troy Cox Classic tourney

First Pitch
NM State will return to action this weekend when they fit five games across three days as they get set to host the Troy Cox Classic at the NM State Softball Complex. The Aggies will see Nebraska, UT Arlington, Iowa State, Southeastern Louisiana and Northern Colorado with games scattered between Thursday, Friday and Sunday. Last year's WAC Regular Season Champions had a tough stretch to open the season as they fell to Texas State in a two-game series on Friday and Saturday before dropping one to Oregon State on Sunday afternoon.
 
The Aggies enter the season as the defending WAC regular-season champions after they had an impressive conference-best record of 14-4 (31-21 overall). The last time out, the Aggies were playing in the WAC Tournament Championship, where they lost to Seattle U by a final of 7-5. This season, the Aggies are predicted to finish second in the WAC West Division, according to a release put out by the WAC last week.
 
Where to Watch
All of the Aggies Troy Cox Classic games will be broadcast live on the WAC Digital Network at wacdigitalnetwork.com.
 
Aggie Rundown
The Aggies had a tough go of things during opening weekend as they came away with a pair of losses to 2021 NCAA Tournament participant Texas State and a loss to Pac-12 foe Oregon State.
 
In the series, the Aggie offense was led by freshman Yazzy Avila who finished with three hits, including a pair in the season opener against Texas State to post an on-base percentage of .444 to open the season. Against the Wildcats, Avila also brought in two runs.
 
Legend in the Dugout
Kathy Rodolph has had a remarkable career as the head coach of the Aggies. In her 18th year at the helm, Randolph is the winningest coach in NM State with a 540-440 record. She's led the team to four WAC Tournament Championships and six WAC Regular Season Championships, including last season when the team went 14-4 in conference play. She is a five-time WAC coach of the year. She has helped the Aggies capture the last eight WAC player of the year awards and back-to-back WAC Freshman of the year awards. Also has had 17 players named to the NFCA All-Regional Team.
 
Scouting the Huskers
Nebraska closed the 2021 season with a 22-22 record, notching a win against then #23 Michigan and then #24 Minnesota. All Husker games last season came against conference opponents due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Nebraska is led by senior Courtney Wallace inside the circle, who finished the 2021 season with a 5-6 record and 2.86 ERA in 132.0 innings pitched. All-Big 10 selection Billie Andrews leads the offense, coming off a 2021 where she hit .317 with 7 HR and 31 RBI. Nebraska started the 2022 season at the Doc Halverson UNI-Dome Classic, going 2-3 with wins over Omaha and Drake.
 
History vs. Nebraska
NM State is 6-11 all-time against Nebraska. The last time these two teams met was on March 8, 2020, right before the season was canceled due to COVID-19. The Aggies came out on top by a final score of 4-1. The fist time these two schools played was on February 20, 2005, where the Huskers took that one by a score of 4-2. 
 
Scouting the Mavericks
UT Arlington finished with a 17-34 record overall and a 9-14 record in Sun Belt play last season, notching wins over then #15 Louisiana. UTA was picked to finish fifth in the Sun Belt preseason coaches' poll. The Mavericks are led by 2021 First Team All-Sun Belt honoree KJ Murphy, who hit .405 with 6 HR and 31 RBI. Laura Henrikson leads the returning pitchers with a 2-5 record in 63.1 innings pitched with a 3.22 ERA. The Mavericks opened the year at the Aggie Classic, hosted by Texas A&M, going 0-4 in games against Western Kentucky, Texas A&M - Corpus Christi and Texas A&M.
 
History vs. UT Arlington
The Aggies last faced the Mavericks on March 9, 2014, where the Aggies won by a score of 4-3. NM State is 5-3 against UT Arlington all-time. The first time the two schools met was on February 17, 2007, when the Aggies shut out the mavericks 7-0.
 
Scouting the Cyclones
The Cyclones were picked to finish fifth in the Big 12 preseason poll, the best in Iowa State history, following a 34-23 record overall and a 6-12 mark in conference play. Iowa State returns a pair of Big 12 selections in Mikayla Ramos, who hit .365 with 13 HR and 57 RBI, and All-Freshman selection Milaysia Ochoa who hit .328 with 7 HR and 41 RBI while also adding 18 steals on 20 attempts. The Cyclones return all pitchers from 2021, including Karli Charles, who went 14-7 with a 4.38 ERA in 137.2 innings. Iowa State opened the 2022 season at the Doc Halverson UNI-Dome Classic, going 4-1 while notching victories over Omaha, Nebraska, South Dakota State and Northern Iowa.
 
History vs. Iowa State
NM State carries a 3-1 all-time record versus Iowa State headed into this weekend. The last meeting between the two schools saw the Aggies win a close game by a score of 5-4. The first meeting between the two programs also saw the Aggies win by a shut out score of 4-0.
 
Scouting the Lions
The Lions were picked to finish third in the Southland in the preseason coaches poll, led by a Southland best seven preseason all-conference selections, including Lindsey Rizzo, who last season hit .353 with 55 hits and 10 RBI. Heather Zumo returns to lead the pitching staff following a season where she went 16-7 with a 2.27 ERA. SLU finished the 2021 season with a 28-23 record overall and a 14-10 record in conference play. The Lions opened the season at home, hosting the 2022 Lion Classic, going 3-0 with a pair of wins over Southeastern Missouri and a 12-5 victory over Alabama A&M.
 
History vs. SE Louisiana
This will be the first time that the NM State and Southeastern Louisiana programs will meet on the softball diamond this weekend. 
 
Scouting the Bears
UNC is led by 2021 All-Big Sky selections Erin Cavaniss and Alyssa Wenzel. Cavaniss led the Bears' pitching staff with a 7-15 record in 137.2 innings pitched and a 4.73 ERA. Wenzel hit .355 last season with 13 RBI and nine stolen bags on the year. Last season, UNC went 12-27 overall and 8-10 in conference action, making an appearance in the Big Sky Tournament. The Bears opened the year at the GCU Kickoff Classic, going 1-4 while collecting a 10-1 win over Bradley.
 
History vs. Northern Colorado
The Aggies carry a commanding 11-2 all-time record against the Bears. The last time the two programs met, the Aggies won by a big margin of 10-2. The first time the two schools met was on February 6, 2005, where the bears came out on top 4-3.