PHOENIX – For the second time in as many games, junior Austin Botello hit a go ahead home run to give the Aggies the win over Grand Canyon. The Aggies have now won their first three conference series for the first time since at least 2004, with the 4-3 win on Saturday.
 
The Aggies got on the board first in the second inning as Trey Stine led off with a double up the middle. Mason Fishback reached on a fielder's choice that saw Stine beat a tag at third on a throw from the shortstop. Daniel Johnson singled on a ball though the left side, scoring Stine.
 
NM State added another run in the second as L.J. Hatch doubled to center. Trey Stine drove him in with a single to left field.
 
GCU tied the game up in the home half with both runs coming in on single through the right side.
 
The Aggies retook the lead in the fifth as Mason Fishback was hit by a pitch to reach first. Tristen Carranza then doubled to left center, putting runners in scoring position with 2 outs. During the next at-bat, Fishback came home on a wild pitch to retake the lead 3-2.
 
The 'Lopes would not go away however as they tied the game again in the bottom half on a close play at the plate with the runner coming home on a fielder's choice to first.
 
The Aggies went ahead to stay as Austin Botello led off the seventh with an absolute blast to right field, his second of the weekend and third of the season.
 
Junior Andy Frakes came in to relieve starter Kyle Bradish in the sixth, throwing three hitless frames and earning his first career win.
 
Tyler Erwin came on to close the game in the ninth for the Aggies, and proceeded to strike out the first two batters he faced. A 'Lopes batter then walked and another was hit by a pitch. For the second night in a row, Joe Galindo came in with the winning run on base with 2 outs and worked out of the jam by getting the batter to fly out to the left field warning track with Greg Popylisen snagging the final out, sealing the 4-3 win for the Aggies.