RIVERSIDE, Calif. – Freshman Kyle Bradish pitched a gem on Saturday afternoon, leading the Aggies to a 4-2 win over UC Riverside in the second game of the series. Bradish went seven innings and only allowed two runs with eight strikeouts.
 
NM State got it rolling in the top of the first as Daniel Johnson singled to center. He then stole second and advanced to third on a Dan Hetzel ground out back to pitcher. Austin Botello brought Johnson home on a single to center.
 
The Highlanders got the run back in the bottom of the second with a sacrifice fly left driving in a run from third.
 
The Aggies retook the lead in the top of the fourth as Greg Popylisen singled to short and then stole second. Brent Sakurai hit a RBI single to center, scoring Popylisen from second.
 
NM State got a much need insurance run in the fifth as L.J. Hatch led off the inning with a single up the middle. Daniel Johnson reached on a fielder's choice, but Hatch was called out 4-6 at second. Daniel Johnson proceed to steal second and third during the next at-bat. Dan Hetzel was plunked on a full count to put runners at the corners. Hetzel stole second as Austin Botello popped out to second. Joseph Koerper drove in Johnson on a little nubber just to the edge of the infield grass.
 
NM added another run in the seventh as Austin Botello doubled to right center to lead off the inning. Trey Stine put runners at the corners with a single through the left side of the infield. Brent Sakurai drove in Botello with a RBI double to left, but Stine was gunned down at home to end the inning.
 
In the bottom of the seventh, UCR managed to get runners at first and second with two outs. On a hard hit ball to right center that was tailing away from him, Daniel Johnson turned into Superman making an outstanding play by laying out and catching the ball for the third out and saving a run.
 
The Highlanders would cut the lead to two in the home half of the eighth on a grounder to second, scoring a run from third, but that would be it.
 
Reigning WAC Pitcher of the Week Tyler Erwin clinched the victory for the Aggies in the ninth with three straight strikeouts. Erwin has not allowed a run in his last 12.1 innings of work.
 
The two teams will face off in a rubber match tomorrow at 1 p.m.