EDINBURG, Texas – The New Mexico State baseball team took care of UT Rio Grande Valley 12-3 on Saturday. Freshman righty Kyle Bradish threw a gem in his best career performance, going seven innings only allowing one run and tying a career high with eight strikeouts.
 
The Aggies started red hot with Daniel Johnson and Greg Popylisen hitting back to back singles to start the game. Austin Botello flied out to center, with Johnson tagging up and taking third. Dan Hetzel drove in Johnson with a single right, putting the Aggies up 1-0.
 
UTRGV tied the game at 1-1 in the bottom of the third with a run scoring on an E5 failed pickoff attempt.
 
The Vaqueros took the lead 2-1 in the fourth. The run scored as a runner from third avoided the tag and stole home.
 
NM State broke the game wide open in the sixth as Greg Popylisen drew a full count walk to lead off the inning, followed by Austin Botello walking on a 3-1 count. Dan Hetzel loaded the bases by beating out an infield single to the pitcher. Joseph Koerper grounded out to third, but scored Popylisen. Trey Stine cleared the bases with a two-RBI double to deep center field, scoring Hetzel and Botello. Mason Fishback singled to right, scoring Stine and giving the Aggies a 5-2 lead.
 
The bats stayed hot in the seventh as Daniel Johnson led off with a single to center. Popylisen moved him to second with a sacrifice bunt. Austin Botello drew a 3-1 walk. Johnson and Botello pulled off the double steal during the next at-bat, taking third and second, respectively. Johnson scored on a wild pitch. Dan Hetzel scored Botello with a sacrifice fly to center. Joseph Koerper doubled to center. L.J. Hatch followed suit with a double of his own to left, scoring Koerper. All told, the Aggies lead 8-2 after seven innings.
 
The Aggies added an insurance run in the eighth as Brent Sakurai singled down the left field line. Greg Popylisen drove him in with a triple to the left field corner.
 
UTRGV got a run in the bottom half as a run scored on a single through the right side of the infield.
 
NM State broke out for three more runs in the ninth as Dan Hetzel led off with a base hit to center, and advanced to second on a balk. Koerper drew a four pitch walk. Jason Bush drew a full count walk to load the bases with two outs. Hetzel scored on a wild pitch. Brent Sakurai cleared the bases with a two-RBI double to the right center wall, scoring Koerper and Bush and giving the Aggies the 12-3 victory.
 
The two teams will face off in the rubber match on Sunday at 11 a.m.