Morgan Spearman enters her third season as an assistant coach with the Lobos in 2024-25 after joining the program in June 2022. Spearman’s primary responsibilities are overseeing the hitting and working with the outfielders.
The Lobos took significant statistical strides in the first two years, producing numbers and wins that hadn’t been achieved in several years. This past season, the Lobos won in Boise for the first time since 2016 and won against Boise State for the first time since 2021. In addition, the Lobos’ sweep of Utah State was the first sweep of a Mountain West opponent since 2016 and the first sweep of the Aggies since 1989; the Lobos earned their first win over UNLV since 2021 and beat Fresno State twice for the series win after having only nine wins total all-time against the Bulldogs entering the season. The Lobos had three players earn Mountain West Freshman of the Week awards (McKenna Guest, DeNae Vasquez-Dickson and Katherine Brunner), the second most among MW schools, with Vasquez-Dickson’s 15 sac bunts the most by a freshman in the NCAA, led the MW and third in the NCAA.
In her first year working with the hitters, Spearman guided the Lobos to results that hadn’t been achieved in several years. UNM’s .299 batting average was the best since 2015 and tied the best average for the program in the last 11 years. The 399 hits and 231 runs scored were the most since 2015 and 2016, respectively, and the 214 RBI and .368 on-base percentage were the highest since 2015. The team’s 14 triples were the most in a single season since 2010 and the Lobos made improvements in batting average, on-base percentage, runs scored, hits, and slugging percentage.
Additionally, UNM jumped in the NCAA rankings offensively from a season ago in: batting average (a ranking improvement of 86 spots), triples per game (88 spots), stolen bases per game (87 spots), runs (49 spots), on-base percentage (46 spots), slugging percentage (12 spots). The Lobos ranked 45th in batting average, 29th in triples per game, 68th in on-base percentage and 88th in slugging percentage.
Among the conference, UNM had players in the top four in the MW in batting average (Rachael Hathoot second at .396 and Peyton Robinson fourth at .380), two players in the top 5 in MW in hits (Robinson fourth at 60 and Hathoot fifth at 59) and two players in the top 2 in triples (Hathoot first at seven and Ashley Archuleta tied for second at 5).
Hathoot produced her best season as a Lobo with 59 hits, nine doubles, seven triples, 31 RBI, 91 total bases, 12 walks, 38 runs scored, a .396 batting average, .452 on-base percentage and .611 slugging percentage and her seven triples tied for the third most in a single season in program history, last done in 1998. Her 59 hits were more than her freshman and sophomore seasons combined, as were her total bases. Archuleta finished with 43 hits, four doubles, five triples (tied for the ninth most in a single season in program history) and three home runs, 25 RBI and 66 total bases, had a .508 slugging percentage, .331 batting average and .401 on-base percentage. She finished her best season as a Lobo in terms of home runs, triples, batting average, slugging percentage and stolen bases.
Nationally, Hathoot finished 53rd in the NCAA in batting average, fifth in triples and seventh in triples per game, Archuleta finished 28th in triples and 30th in triples per game and Robinson finished 30th in sacrifice bunts.
Hathoot improved on that in the most recent season, carrying a career-best 27-game streak of reaching base and a 17-game hitting streak with a career-best 20 multiple hit games. Additionally, she led the Lobos with an overall batting average of .382, 66 hits and 37 runs scored with her 66 hits the most for a Lobo since Mariah Rimmer’s 67 in 2016 and the 8th-most hits in a single season in program history.
“We have worked together for five years now and balance each other well,” stated Dickson at the time of Spearman joining the coaching staff. “Her strengths include player development and teaching the game, with an incredible work ethic and task efficiency, and preparation with scouting and practice plans. I’m excited to have her join UNM Softball.”
“First off, I want to thank Coach Dickson for this opportunity to come to The University of New Mexico with her,” commented Spearman. “Working alongside Coach Dickson these last five years has been nothing but enjoyment. What I love most about working with her is the winning mindset and culture she brings.
“I am looking forward to getting on campus and starting to work with this program and awesome administration. Lastly, thank you Eddie Nuñez and David Williams for this opportunity as well. Go Lobos.”
Working with Dickson, Spearman was instrumental to the Ladyjacks’ success in winning the Southland Conference in 2021 and the WAC Southwest Division in 2022 and in accumulating 30-plus wins in four of the past five seasons. Working with the hitters, Spearman developed the 2021 Southland Hitter of the Year along with three named to the All-Southland First Team, two placed on the All-Southland Second Team and one on the All-Southland Third Team in 2021. This past year, Spearman helped two players earn All-WAC Second Team honors.
During her time at SFA, the Ladyjacks had two hitter of the year selections.
Previous to serving as the assistant coach at SFA, Spearman was an assistant coach at Eastern New Mexico from 2016-17 and was a graduate assistant at her alma mater, Angelo State, from 2014-16.
Spearman played collegiately at Angelo State from 2011-14, earning All-America honors in 2013 and 2014. Further, she was named to the first team all-region and a NFCA Third Team All-American in 2013 and in 2014, was named to the NFCA All-America First Team and named the Division II Softball Player of the Year Honda Cup Award winner. An outfielder, Spearman was the Lone Star Conference Player of the Year in 2014, and broke Angelo State and Lone Star Conference single-season records her senior season after hitting .506.