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Coach Cathy Rodolph and the Aggies began a tough stretch that is sure to test the team's resolve. Six games in five days. However, the Aggies set records and continued their dominance in the Western Athletic Conference.
The Aggies (27-14, 7-4 in WAC Play) played Boise State this weekend at the NM State Softball Complex and racked up three more wins, sweeping the series against the Broncos.
Freshman utility player Tiare Jennings broke several NM State single-season hitting records. Jennings now holds the single-season runs batted in (RBI) record with 53 RBIs and the single season home run record with 15 home runs. Jennings also stands atop the single season runs scored record with 47 runs scored on the season, breaking teammate Kristi Randall's previous record of 45.
Jennings' hot bat also led to matching a single-game record two home runs in one game.
Jennings wasn't the only one making history, however. Senior pitcher Kim Watson set an all-time career record for wins. Watson recorded her record-breaking 59th win after downing the Broncos 8-4 on Saturday afternoon. Watson's win shatters Danny Dunn's 12-year-old record of 58 wins.
In the first game against Boise State, the Aggies surged from in a late fifth inning; four run rally and added three more runs in the sixth to claim the Aggies first victory of the night. In the second game of the doubleheader, the Aggies and Broncos contested each other for the lead, switching positions throughout the game. The Aggies snuck ahead by one run in the bottom of the fourth and hung on for their second win of the night.
The Aggie offense, ranked No. 2 in the nation, recorded a batting average of .404, with 23 hits, four doubles, a triple, a home run and 18 runs batted in. Leading the way in the box for the first two games was sophomore shortstop Kylie Randall who went 4 for 6 with a triple and scoring four runs. Sophomore Kandis Jones added three hits, four RBIs and scored two runs for the Aggies.
In the first game, Watson threw 163 pitches, 104 for strikes. Watson added 27 pitches and 20 strikes in two innings in the second game to bring her total to 190 throws and 124 strikes in nine innings.
Sophomore Vanessa Fitzgerald was brought in to relieve Watson, but only faced five Bronco Batters when fellow sophomore Nicole Russell came in for the final five innings. Russell tallied her third win of the season, recording a pair of strikeouts and only one earned run in the Aggie victory. In the final game of the series, the Aggies made quick work of the Broncos, winning 8-4 after scoring eight runs in only four innings. Jennings led the way with two home runs and four RBIs. Junior outfielder Angie Ortega added a home run; her 12th on the season and senior first baseman Stacey Lien added a home run of her own. Watson saw action again, on Saturday. Watson, now 15-8 on the season, gave up two runs on five hits in five and two-thirds innings of action. Freshman right-hander Sydney Willard relieved Watson for the final one and one-thirds innings, striking out one and shutting down the Bronco offense.
NM State goes right back into action as the Aggies face Utah State Monday April 20 and Tuesday April 21, in Logan, Utah.
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