LAS CRUCES, N.M. – After falling in extra innings on Friday, New Mexico State (26-20, 14-6) bounced back with an 8-5 win over Seattle U (29-17, 16-4) on Saturday. Junior Austin Botello's 3-for-4 day at the plate with three RBI played a major role in the win, finishing just a double shy of the cycle.
 
The Aggies came out hot in the bottom of the first, as Daniel Johnson led off with a base hit to short. Johnson was caught stealing second during the next at-bat. Greg Popylisen drew a full count walk. On the first pitch he saw, Austin Botello belted a two-run moon shot to right, putting NM State up 2-0 early.
 
Seattle U cut the lead to one run in the second. Brock Carpenter, who hit the game tying home run on Friday, unloaded on a 2-2 pitch for a leadoff solo homer.
 
The Aggies extended their lead in the home half, as Joseph Koerper drew a full count walk. Brent Sakurai doubled to left center, putting runners in scoring position. Daniel Johnson hit a sacrifice fly to left, plating Koerper and making the score 3-1.
 
NM State added some much needed insurance runs in the third, as Austin Botello led off with a triple to right field. Dan Hetzel brought him in with a ground out to short. Mason Fishback drew a four-pitch walk. Trey Stine scored Fishback with a double down the left field line, putting the Aggies up 5-1.
 
The Aggies continued to score in the fourth, as Brent Sakurai reached first on a bunt base hit. Daniel Johnson moved him over with a single to left. Sakurai was picked off second during the next at-bat. Greg Popylisen drew another full count walk. Austin Botello scored Johnson on a single to center, but was out advancing to second on the play.
 
The Redhawks looked to make it a game in the fifth, as the leadoff batter was plunked and advanced to second on a wild pitch during the next at-bat. On the first pitch, Chase Ridder blasted a two-run home run to left. Two walks and a RBI single to left field scored the third run of the inning, pulling Seattle within three runs . They added another run in the top of the sixth on an RBI single to left, making it a two run game at 6-4.
 
NM State pushed the lead back out to three in the bottom of the sixth. On the first pitch he saw, Joseph Koerper launched a leadoff solo shot to straight away center, his second home run of the season.
 
The Aggies added a final run in the seventh, as Mason Fishback drew a 3-2 walk. L.J. Hatch singled to left, putting runner at first and second. Trey Stine scored Fishback with a RBI single to right.
 
Juniors Ruger Rodriguez and Tyler Erwin combined to shut out Seattle U in the seventh and eighth innings. The two only allowed one hit in that span. Joe Galindo came in to close the game in the ninth and sealed the 8-5 victory with a fly out and two strikeouts.
 
The two teams will face off in the rubber match on Senior Day and the final home game of the regular season tomorrow at 12 p.m.