TUCSON, Ariz. – New Mexico State came up just short on Wednesday as they fell to Arizona 8-7. The game was a back and forth affair, which featured three lead changes.
 
The Aggies capitalized on Arizona's miscues early in the game. Greg Popylisen singled through the right side, and advanced to second on an E3 on a failed pickoff attempt. Austin Botello beat out a dribbler to short to put runners on the corners. Dan Hetzel scored Popylisen reaching on an E5. Joseph Koerper scored Botello on a fielder's choice, with Hetzel forced out at second.
 
NM State kept taking advantage of the Wildcat mistakes as Mason Fishback reached on a leadoff E6. L.J. Hatch doubled to left center to put runners in scoring postion. Daniel Johnson was intentionally walked to load the bases. Fishback scored on a wild pitch, putting the Aggies up 3-0 after two innings.
 
The Wildcats pulled within one run in the third as they got a leadoff single up the middle. The next batter drew a full count walk. Both runs scored on a single through the left side, putting the score at 3-2.
 
Arizona took their first lead in the bottom of the fourth. A double and a balk put a runner on third. A single off pitcher Steven Butts' hand scored the tying run. A single through the right side scored the go ahead run, putting the Wildcats up 4-3.
 
The Aggies tied it up in the fifth as Daniel Johnson lead off with a single to right. Greg Popylisen sacrifice bunted Johnson to second. Austin Botello scored Johnson, hitting a laser up the middle.
 
The Wildcats went up back up in the bottom half of the inning. They led off with a double to left center. The go ahead run came in on a wild pitch.
 
NM State broke out to retake the lead in the seventh as Austin Botello hit a towering solo shot to right center to tie the game at 5. Dan Hetzel singled up the middle, and advanced to second on a passed ball. Joseph Koerper was intentionally walked. Both Koerper and Hetzel moved into scoring position on a wild pitch. Mason Fishback walked on a 3-1 pitch to load the bases. Coming in as a pinch hitter, Cameron Haskins drove in Hetzel and Koerper, poking a ball through the right side of the infield  giving the Aggies a 7-5 lead.
 
Arizona pulled within one run in the home half of the inning. The Wildcat's Matijevic blasted a towering shot to right center for a lead off, solo homer. Arizona took the lead to stay in the eighth. The Wildcats singled up the middle to put a runner on base. A double down the left field line tied the game at seven runs apiece. An RBI single through the right side of the infield scored the winning run, putting the Wildcats up 8-7.
 
The Aggies are back in action again this weekend as they travel to Bakersfield, Calif. to take on WAC for CSU Bakersfield.