PHOENIX – Junior Austin Botello's three-run blast in the seventh lifted the Aggies over Grand Canyon 5-4 in the first game of a crucial Western Athletic Conference series. Juniors Chris Kucko and Matthew McHugh also played big rolls, holding the 'Lopes to just two runs through six and a third innings.
 
NM State did an excellent job manufacturing a run in to start the game as Daniel Johnson led off with a single to right and advanced to second on an error as the right fielder booted the ball. Greg Popylisen laid down a sacrifice bunt, which moved Johnson to third. Austin Botello then grounded out to second, scoring Johnson to put the Aggies on the board first.
 
GCU fought back with a run of their own in the home half as a run scored on an RBI single to left.
 
The Aggies retook the lead in the fifth as Trey Stine led off with a single up the middle. Chad Reibenspies laid down a sacrifice bunt to move Stine to second. Brent Sakurai brought him in with a double to the right field corner.
 
After scoring the run in the first, the 'Lopes proceeded to leave the bases loaded on two different occasions.
 
The Aggies looked to have broken the game open in the seventh as Daniel Johnson doubled to right center. Greg Popylisen drew a four pitch walk. On the first pitch he saw, Austin Botello jacked an absolute laser over the right field fence, clearing the bases and putting the good guys in front 5-1.
 
The 'Lopes pulled within one run in the bottom half with their own three run frame. The first run came on a double to left center. The other two runs came on a bases clearing single to left center.
 
GCU threatened in the bottom of the ninth loading the bases for a third time, but junior Joe Galindo came in and struck out the GCU batter to clinch the 5-4 victory for the Aggies and pull within a half game of first place in the WAC.
 
Both teams are back at it tomorrow at 8 p.m.