LAS CRUCES, N.M. – The NM State baseball team faced off against the Bryant Bulldogs in a doubleheader on Saturday. A day full of great baseball saw the Aggies split the day's games as Aggie freshman Joseph Standley picked up the first win of the season for the team.
 
Talking post-game about the day's tough contests, head coach Brian Green said, "Bryant's a really good program. They have tough hitters and their pitchers have done really well of commanding their strikes. But, we gutted one out today with a lot of quality at-bats late, real leadership and the real story of the day was the play by Keaton Graf and Ruger Rodriguez."
 
Game One: How it happened
 
The first two innings didn't see too much action as both teams headed into the third frame knotted at zero. Bryant broke the scoreless tie in the top of the third when its leadoff hitter, Cole Fabio, found his way around the base path after singling up the middle. The Aggies had multiple opportunities to get Fabio out on the base paths, but found themselves trailing 1-0 after Ryan Ward scored him on a groundout to Brent Sakurai.
 
The NM State bats couldn't string together any hits against Bryant's starter Steve Theetge, going 1-for-9 with runners on-base through four innings of action.
 
A lengthy top of the fifth inning for the Aggies spot the Bulldogs seven runs and forced NM State head coach Brian Green to go to his bullpen, which didn't fare much better. However, the Aggie bats were able to get two runs back in their half of the frame when a double from Austin Botello plated Greg Popylisen. Dan Hetzel followed with a groundout to third that scored Marcus Still. Botello advanced to third on a wild pitch, but a deep fly ball to center by Mason Fishback ended the inning.
 
The sixth inning was no short of fireworks as Mickey Gasper led off with a triple in the gap between Popylisen and Still. With runners on the corners, the Bulldogs tacked on another two runs thanks to a balk and double down the right side.
 
With one out in the bottom of the sixth, Sakurai started an Aggie rally after reaching base on a throwing error by the Bulldogs' third baseman. He would score on the next play when Tristen Carranza doubled him in and then scored himself when Popylisen tripled to left. A triple from Still followed by a groundout from Joey Ortiz saw two more Aggies cross the plate to bring NM State within 10-6 of the visitors.
 
Bryant answered right back with three runs in the seventh, which included its third homer of the game. Not able to find an answer, the Aggies then left men on second and third to end the seventh inning.
 
After a quiet eighth, NM State shut down the Bulldogs in the ninth and looked to works some magic in the bottom of the inning but it was too little too late as a Marcus Still double to the left field gap, scoring Brent Sakurai was the only production.
 
NM State walked out of the first game of the doubleheader with a loss, 13-7.
 
Game 2: How it happened
 
Unlike the first game of the day, game two started off with early production from both squads. Bryant began the scoring after leadoff hitter Cole Fabio walked and advanced home on two throwing errors. The Aggies responded in the bottom half of the inning as a shot to center field by Dan Hetzel scored both Austin Botello and Greg Popylisen to give NM State an early 2-1 lead.
 
Over the next three innings, starting pitcher Kyle Bradish and the oppsotions hurler found a rhythm only allowing a hit a piece and allowing zero runs.  
 
In the top of the fifth inning, Bradish faced a bases loaded situation with the Bulldogs number two hitter at the plate. The sophomore kept his composure with great control of his pitches forcing Angelini to ground out to end the inning.
 
Catcher Jason Bush gave some life to the Aggies bats in the bottom half of the fifth as he hit a bomb off the right field wall which ricocheted off the wall, allowing Bush to leg out a triple and Brent Sakurai to put another run up on the board.
 
After Bryant put two runs up on the board in the sixth inning to tie the game at three, NM State looked to regain momentum of the game. Greg Popylisen started the charge in the sixth after getting hit by a pitch, as the left fielder then stole second and advanced to third on a groundout by Botello. With the leading run 90 feet away, Dan Hetzel hit a sacrifice fly to right field bringing in Popylisen and giving NM State a 4-3 lead.
 
The remaining innings featured a real pitching battle as each team saw strong performances form their relievers. Keaton Graf pitched two-plus innings of scoreless ball holding the Aggies lead.
 
Then, in the ninth inning, with only one out and the bases loaded the Aggies called in Ruger Rodriguez to close out the game. The heavy-throwing right-hander struck out the first batter looking, bringing the Aggies first win just one out away. The senior came in clutch as he forced the Bulldogs number three hitter to line out to center on a 2-2 count and preserve the win, 4-3, for the Aggies.
 
After the game, Standley was credited with the win and Rodriguez picked up the save. This was the first win of the season for NM State and splitting the doubleheader on Saturday moves the team to 1-2 on the year. The final game of the series against Bryant will take place tomorrow at 12 p.m. MT at Presley Askew Field.