LAS CRUCES, N.M. – The New Mexico State Baseball team fell to Stephen F. Austin 8-2 on Friday night at Presley Askew Field. The bright spots were Kyle Bradish's career high eight strikeouts and Austin Botello's 2-for-4 night at the plate with an RBI.
 
The game began with the Lumberjacks getting a leadoff single through the right side of the field, and advancing the runner to second on a botched pickoff. Another single put runners on the corners. A sacrifice fly to right field scored the first run of the game. A single on a diving play by Brent Sakurai scored the second run.
 
The Aggies were able to get one run back in the home half as Daniel Johnson singled, beating out a hard hit ball to third.  He then proceeded to steal second during the next at-bat. Austin Botello's single up the middle scored Johnson from second. The Aggies trailed 2-1 after one inning.
 
SFA add a run in the second inning as the leadoff man singled to third to start the inning. The runner was moved to second on a sacrifice bunt, putting him in scoring position. Lumberjack Nick Ramos proceeded to bring him home on a RBI triple to deep right center.
 
The Lumberjacks busted the game wide open in the fifth inning, as a passed ball scored a runner from third for one run. The next at-bat, Tyler Boxwell hit a two-run blast to right field, pushing the score to 6-1.
 
NM State was able to scrounge up one run in the home half as Cameron Haskins and L.J. Hatch hit back-to-back singles with one out. Tristen Carranza walked on a full count to load the bases. Daniel Johnson scored Haskins on a fielder's choice, beating out a potential 6-4-3 double play.
 
SFA scored two more runs in the top of the ninth, as Ramos came through in the clutch again driving in two runs with the bases loaded on a single up the middle, finalizing the score at 8-2.
 
Both teams are back at it again tomorrow with a doubleheader beginning at 2 p.m.