SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – A six-run fifth inning, thanks in part to Austin Botello's grand slam, propelled the New Mexico State baseball team to a 7-3 series opening win against UC Santa Barbara Friday afternoon at Caesar Uyesaka Stadium.
 
How It Happened
UC Santa Barbara (7-12) went up early on the Aggies, scoring two behind three-straight hits – including back-to-back doubles. The third run came via a wild pitch from Bradish before he got a fly out to end the inning with the bases loaded.
 
NM State (14-9) got a run back in the top of the fourth after Joey Ortiz rounded the bases. The freshman first singled through the right side and advanced to second on a grounder to the second baseman by Austin Botello. Ortiz then crossed the dish when Dan Hetzel drove him in on a single through the right side.
 
After having trouble finding his command in the first inning, Kyle Bradish settled down and retired the next nine of 10 UCSB batters.
 
The Aggies had an opportunity to make some noise in the fifth frame when LJ Hatch led things off with a single. Jason Bush's single then put runners on the corners for NM State with just one out. With two outs, Ortiz patiently drew a two-out walk to load the bases which set Austin Botello up for a grand slam off the right-field foul pole to give the Aggies the 5-3 lead.
 
After the touch 'em all from Botello, a single by Hetzel and back-to-back walks loaded the bases once more for NM State, this time with LJ Hatch at the dish. The Shawnee, Kan., product came through for the Aggies with a two-run single up the middle and extended the NM State lead to 7-3.
 
The Gauchos threatened in their half of the fifth frame, putting runners on first and second behind a lead-off walk and single. Bradish got the next two batters to punch out and pop out before a walk loaded the bases. However, the Aggie starter was able to work his way out of the jam when he got UCSB's Tommy Jew to hit into a fielder's choice for the third out.
 
UCSB loaded the bases once again against Bradish, this time with just one out in the bottom of the sixth. But, the sophomore once again showed why he was named a Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American last season and worked his way out of the bases-loaded situation. Bradish first battled the Gauchos' No. 3 batter with 10 pitches before getting him to strike out on the 11th pitch of the at-bat. The 6-4 righty walked off the mound and met with an emphatic bench when he got the next batter to pop up in foul territory for the final out of the inning.
 
NM State was held at bay from the sixth inning on by UCSB's reliever, Kevin Chandler, who allowed just one hit in 3.1 innings of work with five punch outs. However, the six spot by Aggies in the fifth inning was more than enough for NM State as it took the first game of the series against the Gauchos, 7-3.
 
New Mexico State and UC Santa Barbara return to Caesar Uyesaka Stadium Saturday, March 25, for game two of the three-game series. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m. (MT) as Marcel Renteria (3-1, 3.75 ERA) takes the hill for NM State.
 
By The Numbers
Kyle Bradish walked away with his third win of the season after tossing six innings of work while giving up just three runs, two earned, on six hits with four walks and five strikeouts…the 111 pitches for Bradish is a season-high for the sophomore…with 10 hits today, NM State has now recorded 10-plus hits 13 times out of 24…Friday's loss for UC Santa Barbara was its first non-conference loss at home since 2013.