Faith Aragon was in the zone.
New Mexico State's sophomore allowed a combined 10 earned runs on 14 hits in her last two appearances and wanted a bounce-back game against Sam Houston. She was called upon for the second game of the Aggies' three-game home series against the Bearkats on Saturday, and she didn't let them down.
This time, she was effective. Aragon pitched her best game of the season with a six-inning shutout and a career-high nine strikeouts to help NM State (20-14, 7-4 Conference USA) take down Sam Houston (17-18, 6-5) and clinch a series victory with an 8-0 run-rule victory in six innings. The Aggies won the first game 8-4 on Friday.
That's a new CAREER HIGH! 😲
— NM State Softball (@NMStateSoftball) March 29, 2025
Faith Aragon has thrown five shutout innings with NINE K's! 💪#AggieUppic.twitter.com/j9tUL1NcRg
Aragon brought her finest stuff against the Bearkats and kept them guessing with her pitch locations. It worked, as Sam Houston only managed three hits against her.
"I think I was just really able to move the ball all over the plate," Aragon said. "When I have that spin, that is when I have the best results."
Aragon started hot, retiring the first six batters she saw and recording eight of her nine strikeouts in the first four innings. NM State struggled at the plate early, scoring just one run in those four innings, but Aragon's efforts helped keep the Bearkats at bay before the Aggies came alive with seven runs in the final two innings.
Aragon showed confidence and continued challenging Sam Houston's batters even without early run support, impressing NM State coach Kathy Rodolph.
"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 has been working to make an impression in her first season with NM State after transferring from UTEP. She's become a regular starter for the Aggies and improved her ERA to 4.45 in her seventh pitching win of the season, and she enters next week's series against the Miners riding high.
Aragon is now aiming to build on Saturday's performance, believing she's on the right track for more success.
"I honestly don't think I've done anything different," Aragon said. "I think today, me and the team were just locked in, and when we do what we need to do, these are the results we're gonna get."
