GAME INFO VS. NEW MEXICO STATE
Location: NM State Softball Complex, Las Cruces, N.M.
- Friday, March 27
- Saturday, March 28
- Sunday, March 29
ABOUT THE TOPS
- WKU boasts a 22-7 overall record and a 6-3 record in Conference USA play. The Tops are coming off a three-game sweep of Middle Tennessee at the WKU Softball Complex.
- On Saturday, March 21, Rylan Smith threw the 15th no-hitter in program history, exactly 20 days after Erica Houge threw hers on March 1.
- The 2026 season becomes only the second in WKU Softball history where two different pitchers threw no-hitters in the same season. The only other season was 2014 when Hannah Miniard and Emily Rousseau threw no-hitters against UT Arlington and Troy, respectively.
- During Saturday's game, Smith threw 109 pitches and set a new season high in strikeouts with 11. Along the way, her defense was nothing short of perfect with eight fly outs and two ground outs without a single error.
- The Hilltoppers are one of seven teams ranked in the top 25 across all of NCAA DI softball in ERA (18th, 2.57) and batting average (25th, .340). Those teams include No. 1 Texas, No. 2 Texas Tech, No. 3 Oklahoma, No. 5 Florida, No. 9 Arkansas, and No. 12 Virginia Tech.
- With their top 25 ERA and batting average, the Hilltoppers are also at the top of the conference in both statistical categories.
- The Hilltoppers are on pace to reach 30 wins faster than any team in program history. The fastest teams to do so were the 2019 and 2022 squads, who achieved 30 wins in 39 games. The 2026 team has the chance to do it in 37 games.
- Jenna Blanton is one of the best hitters in CUSA, sitting second with a .472 batting average. Meanwhile, Annie White is the most consistent on the base paths, boasting a conference-best .567 on-base percentage.
- WKU's pitching staff is also the best in the conference with a 2.61 ERA. Erica Houge currently leads the conference with a 2.16 ERA. She's allowed only 27 earned runs in 87.1 innings of work.
- All three of WKU's starting pitchers are listed in the top 15 in ERA. Erica is first with a 2.16, Maddy Wood is ninth at 3.10, and Rylan Smith is 12th at 3.29.
- Rylan Smith and Erica Houge have the two best opposing batting averages in the conference. Smith leads with a .153 while Houge is right behind her in second at .183.
ABOUT NEW MEXICO STATE
- Series Record
- WKU leads the all-time series against NMSU 21-9.
- When playing in Las Cruces, the Tops are 10-2.
- Scouting the Aggies
- The Aggies are 16-16 overall and 6-3 in conference play. NMSU is coming off a 2-1 series win over FIU and swept LA Tech earlier this season.
- Leading both NMSU's offense and pitching is Faith Aragon with a .424 batting average and 2.96 ERA. Named CUSA's Player of the Week on March 9, Aragon leads with a slash line of .424/.441/.778.
- In the circle, Aragon leads the Aggies and the conference in strikeouts with 121. In addition, hitters are posting a .217 batting average.
- The Aggies have posted 206 runs across 32 games, averaging 6.44 runs per game.
- Devin Elam is another offensive contributor for the Aggies, slashing .400/.422/.835 and 28 RBI. Kendal Lunar and Elam have posted the most RBI for the Aggies with 28.
