LAS CRUCES, N.M. – The Aggies clinched the first WAC series of the year with an 11-4 win over Chicago State on Friday night. Three Aggie home runs from Dan Hetzel, L.J. Hatch and Trey Stine played a large role in the victory.
 
Just like in the first game on Thursday, Chicago State was able to get on the board early as a single to center scored the first run of the game.
 
NM State's bats started white hot as L.J. Hatch tripled to right field to lead off the home half of the first. Daniel Johnson walked on four pitches to put runners at the corners. Austin Botello singled to right center, scoring Hatch.
 
The Cougars got a run right off the bat in the second as Rick Salazar blasted a leadoff homer to left field. They got another run off a double to right center and led 3-1.
 
The Aggies got a run back in the bottom half with Greg Popylisen drawing a four pitch walk to lead off. Popylisen stole second on a fly out to center. Brent Sakurai singled through the left side, moving Popylisen to third. L.J. Hatch hit a sacrifice fly to right, scoring Popylisen. NM State took the lead in the third as Dan Hetzel boomed a towering leadoff homer to left.
 
The Aggies added two insurance runs in the fourth as Greg Popylisen beat out a base hit bunt to the left of the pitcher's mound to lead off the inning, and moved to second on a wild pitch during the next at-bat. Chad Reibenspies walked on four pitches, putting runners at first and second with no outs. Brent Sakurai singled to center to load the bases. L.J. Hatch poked a ball through the right side, scoring Popylisen and keeping the bases loaded. Daniel Johnson grounded into a 6-4-3 double play, but Reibenspies scored to give the Aggies the 5-2 lead.
 
NM State added two more runs in the sixth as Brent Sakurai reached first after being plunked. L.J. Hatch, who tied the season high of five RBI in a single game, blasted a two-run home run scoring Sakurai.
 
The Aggies broke the game open in the seventh, with Greg Popylisen drawing a full count walk to lead off the home half of the inning and later stole second. Brent Sakurai singled to right, moving Popylisen to third. L.J. Hatch scored Popylisen reaching first on an E3. Daniel Johnson hit into a 6-4 fielder's choice, moving Sakurai to third. Daniel Johnson stole second during the next at-bat. Dan Hetzel scored both Sakurai and Johnson with a single.
 
NM State added a final run in the eighth as Trey Stine joined the home run party with a solo shot of his own to left.
 
The Cougars scored one run in the top of ninth off a single up the middle, scoring a run from second.
 
The two teams will face off in the series finale tomorrow at 11 a.m.