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| Photo courtesy of NMSU Media Relations Department |
As the start of the new season approaches, the New Mexico State softball team is putting the finishing touches on offseason practice.
The reigning Western Athletic Conference champs return 13 players from last season, and welcome nine freshmen to the team. The experienced players have spent much of the offseason preparing the newcomers for the 2012 campaign.
“The 13 (returning players) went through the same season and understand the reason that we were so successful is because of how hard we worked,” NMSU coach Kathy Rodolph said. “They have definitely been able to carry that over to the nine freshmen and get them to understand that the one thing that we can control is how hard we work.”
Hard work certainly paid off for the Aggies in 2011. The team won a school-record 44 games and reached the NCAA Tournament for the time in program history.
Power was NMSU’s strength in 2011. As a team, the Aggies finished the season with 82 home runs and 375 runs batted in.
Although the Aggies still have players who can hit the ball and drive in runs, speed is going to play a key role in the team’s success this year. Rodolph hopes the combination of power and speed will keep opposing defenses on their heels.
The non-conference portion of the schedule will present a challenge for NMSU. However, Rodolph believes if the Aggies want to be recognized as a top tier program they must challenge themselves by playing against elite teams.
“It’s going to be a very difficult preseason,” Rodolph said. “At the same time, we are now in the top 50 as a program, so basically if you want to play other top-50 schools those are the teams you’re going to play.”
When non-conference play ends, the Aggies will then begin the defense of their conference title in a competitive WAC.
“I think it’s going to be very tough and evenly matched,” Rodolph said of the conference. “Every single series is going to be important. We need to win the ones at home and then hope to get an advantage on the road, because I feel that competition across the WAC is going to be very strong.”
NMSU opens the season by hosting the Hotel Encanto Invitational at the Softball Complex. The Aggies play Indiana on Feb. 10.
2011 Stats
Overall record: 44-17
Conference: 17-4
Home: 23-9
Away: 12-5
Neutral: 9-3
Singles: 577
Doubles: 93
Triples: 9
Home runs: 82
RBI: 375
On-base percentage: .430
Stolen bases: 86
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