BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – Junior Dan Hetzel's three-run home run in the third inning helped the Aggies defeat CSU Bakersfield 5-4 on Saturday. Hetzel, a native of Long Island, N.Y., now leads the WAC with 36 RBI.
 
CSUB got on the board in the first with a single up the middle to lead off the inning. A 5-4 fielder's choice erased that runner. A single to left would score a run, putting the 'Runners up 1-0.
 
The Aggies took the lead in the third as Brent Sakurai reached on an E5 to start the inning. Austin Botello singled up the middle, putting runners on first and second with two outs. After taking two pitches for balls, Dan Hetzel unloaded a pitch, sending it soaring over 400 feet over the center wall. The homer put NM State up 3-1.
 
The Aggies added two important insurance runs in the sixth as Brent Sakurai doubled to left center. Daniel Johnson drove in Sakurai with a triple down the right field line. Austin Botello scored Johnson with a single up the middle, putting the Aggies up 5-1.
 
The 'Runners would add a run in the sixth, seventh and eighth. The first run came in on a single to left. The second run came in on a single up the middle. The third run came in on a sacrifice fly to left, pulling within one run 5-4.
 
Joe Galindo came in with the tying run at second with two outs in the eighth and got a three-pitch strikeout to end the inning. In the ninth, Galindo got a foul out, fly out and strike out to slam the door and claim his fifth save of the season.
 
The two teams will face off in the rubber match on Sunday at 1 p.m.