Cowgirls Softball Open in Los Lunas

Las Vegas, New Mexico - It is the end of January, which means softball seasons should be starting this weekend. That's right, the New Mexico Highlands Cowgirls softball team travels to Los Lunas this weekend to face three Lone Star Conference opponents.

 

COACH PUGH: Friday marks the first game of the season for Coach Kali Pugh in her New Mexico Highlands Cowgirls career. New Mexico Highlands University named Kali Pugh the new coach of the Cowgirls' softball program on May 28, 2025. Pugh comes to NMHU from Arizona's Yavapai College, where she led the Roughriders to the 2025 Arizona Community College Athletic Conference playoffs for the first time since 2022. Pugh has eight years of experience coaching at the junior college level, including five years at her alma mater, 

 

Coach Pugh said this on here feelings heading into her first season at the helm:
"I am excited to get to know all the other teams, but I am even more excited to show people what Highlands players can do. We've put in a lot of work and have many athletes ready to go out and make a name for themselves and their team. It will be a year of learning, and I don't expect it to be easy. "

Last Season: The Cowgirls were 15-38 overall and 9-35 in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference last year.

 

RMAC Poll:  New Mexico Highlands was selected to finish ninth in the 2026 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Preseason Softball Coaches' Poll. 

 

2026 Roster: The New Mexico Highlands roster features eight returning players from last year's squad. Including players who saw time over the years, such as Jazmyn Greigo, Shaylene Saladin, and Annika Ruiz.

 

The Cowgirls added 16 new players to this year's team.

Roster Breakdown:

By Class :          

Freshman 6    

Sophomore 10  

Junior 6            

Senior 2     

         

 By State: 

Arizona 9          

New Mexico 5

Texas 4

Utah 3

California 2

Oregon 1

 

Weekend Schedule:

 

Friday

#8 West Texas A&M 3:00 PM

 

Saturday

UT Permian Basin 3:00 PM

Sul Ross State 5:30 PM

 

Sunday

UT Permian Basin 10:00 AM

Western New Mexico 12:30 PM

 

*Times are Mountain Time

 

Scouting The Opposition: 

 

West Texas A&M:

The weekend kicks off with a matchup against the 8th-ranked West Texas A&M Buffaloes. A season ago, West Texas A&M was 56-8 and lost in the super regionals to UT-Tyler. Michael Mook is in his 6th season at the helm of the program. In those six seasons, Michael Mook has a record of 242-61, including a 2021 NCAA Division II National Championship. 

 

UT Permian Basin: 

On Saturday, the Cowgirls will face two teams later in the day, starting with UT Permian Basin (UTPB), which was 9-45 overall last season. David Martinez is now at the helm of the Falcons softball program in May 2025. Martinez comes over from Henderson State but has also made stops at Southern Mississippi. The Cowgirls will also face UTPB on Sunday

 

Sull Ross State:

The Cowgirls will then face Sul Ross, who finished last season 11-42. Lacy Middlebrooks takes over the program in her first season, jumping from the high school ranks. However, she is no stranger to college softball. Middlebrooks got her coaching start at Buffalo (2014).  She assisted in all aspects of the Bulls program.  Middlebrooks helped develop three All-Mid-American Conference first-team selections and an all-region selection.  One of her pitchers, Tori Speckman, set three-single-season records that still stand – innings pitched, strikeouts, and wins. Middlebrooks helped the Bulls to their best season in school history.  Buffalo won 30 games, took the first MAC East Division title, and saw its E.R.A. improved by 1.20 points.

 

The final team the Cowgirls will face is the in-state rival, the Western New Mexico Mustangs. Who posted a 16-37 record last season. Last year, the Cowgirls took down the Mustangs 7-2 in the season opener. Ashley Hickman is in her third season at the helm of the Mustangs. Throughout her coaching career, Hickman has coached four All-Americans and 18 conference players. Hickman has had success at the NAIA and the NCAA levels.

 

"The message of the week has been to be intentional. We need to be intentional about what we do before, during, and after practice. Everybody has a role, and everybody needs to be focused and intentional in how they spend their time for the best versions of themselves to show up. And most importantly, to have fun! We've worked hard for a long time now for this moment, so let's just go be us! " Coach Kali said what the message to her team this week was.

 

Follow The Cowgirls: All games are available via live stats on nmhuathletics.com

 

Up Next: The Cowgirls head to Oklahoma for the OC/UCO Festival.