ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – New Mexico State dropped the third game of the Rio Grande Rivalry Series to New Mexico, 10-4.
 
The Lobos jumped on the board early in the first inning. With the winds blowing straight out to right, Carl Stajduhar hit a ball to right that the strong winds carried over the fence for a solo home run.
 
The Aggies tied up the game in the third as Mason Fishback reached on an E5 throwing error to lead off the inning. Zak Felix poked a ball through the right side of the infield for a base hit, moving Fishback to second. Daniel Johnson scored Fishback with a single to center field, knotting the score at one run apiece.
 
UNM retook the lead in the bottom of the fourth. The tie-breaking run came in on a base hit up the middle.
 
Things began to unravel for NM State in the fifth. Dalton Shalberg got a ground out and a line out to start the inning. UNM drew a full count walk for the first Lobo base runner of the inning, and advanced to second on a wild pitch during the next at-bat. UNM drew another walk to put two runners on with two outs. During the next at-bat, the Lobos attempted a double steal, and the runner going to third looked to be gunned down by Fishback. Unfortunately the umpire ruled that Trey Stine bobbled the ball on the catch, thus not making the tag in time. After that, UNM hit a shot to second with Zak Felix throwing short of first, allowing two runs to score. Next, Carl Stajduhar hit his second homer of the day to left, this one a two-run blast. After five innings, the Aggies trailed 6-1.
 
Matters only got worse in the sixth, as UNM led off with a single to short. During the next at-bat, a ball was hit to short with L.J. Hatch throwing to second for the out, in hopes of turning the fourth double play of the game for the Aggies. Unfortunately, Felix was unable to field the relay cleanly with all runners safe on the play. The first run of the inning scored on a single through the left side. A double to right center scored two more runs. The final run of the inning came in on a single to right field. After six innings, the Aggies trailed 10-1.
 
NM State attempted a comeback in the eighth and ninth, with Daniel Johnson leading off the eighth with a single to short. Greg Popylisen followed suit with a single to short as well. Both Johnson and Popylisen pulled off a double steal to put them in scoring position with one out. Dan Hetzel grounded out to second, scoring Johnson. Popylisen scored on a wild pitch during the next at-bat, putting the score at 10-3.
 
The Aggies added one more run in the ninth, as Mason Fishback led off with a single to right. Trey Stine followed with a single to short. Fishback scored on a wild pitch, putting the score at 10-4. Unfortunately, the comeback was cut short with back-to-back strikeouts to end the game.
 
The Aggies are back at home this weekend as they host first place Sacramento State in a three-game weekend series.