DENVER – The Western Athletic Conference announced its baseball players of the week on Monday. Following a strong week at the plate, New Mexico State shortstop Joey Ortiz earned hitter of the week honors.
 
Ortiz totaled three home runs, the first three of his Aggie career with a .389 batting average, 12 RBI and eight runs scored on the week. He started the week against Arizona, going 2-for-4 with two RBIs in a close 5-4 loss.
 
The sophomore found some pop in the weekend series as he was 5-for-14 from the plate, with three home runs, four walks, eight runs scored and 12 RBI. Five of those RBIs came in the series finale, including a grand slam in the sixth inning.
 
On the season, the Garden Grove, Calif. native leads the WAC with 24 runs scored and 12 walks and is among the leaders in several other categories.
 
New Mexico State now hits the road to take on Mississippi State in a pair of contests, March 6-7, in Starkville, Miss. The team then continues the Southeastern Conference tour with a weekend series at Alabama, March 9-11.