LAS CRUCES, N.M. – New Mexico State baseball squared off with CSU Bakersfield for game two of their weekend series on Friday night. NM State kept their winning ways rolling along in a 10-4 toppling of the Roadrunners.
How It Happened
Like Thursday, CSUB struck first in the top-half of the first inning and took a 3-0 lead. NM State cut the lead to 3-1 after one inning of action when
LJ Hatch rounded the bases on back-to-back singles from
Austin Botello and
Dan Hetzel.
After issuing a lead-off walk, Aggie starter
Marcel Renteria retired the side in order.
Tristen Carranza was plunked to start the second frame and then advanced to second on a single from
Marcus Still. Hatch and Still both scored two batters later on a single through the right side from
Joey Ortiz after
Greg Popylisen moved the runners over on a sac-bunt.
With runners on the corners, a wild from CSUB starter Aaron Charles threw an errant ball that allowed Ortiz to score from third and gave NM State the 4-3 lead.
Renteria continued to deal and retired nine-straight 'Runners before leaving the game before the start of the fifth frame.
Andy Frakes, who came in relief of Renteria in the fifth, had a terrific night on the mound and held CSU Bakersfield scoreless for three and a third innings of play before giving way to
Dalton Shalberg in the eighth.
Brent Sakurai's triple to right center in the bottom of the eighth pushed NM State's lead to 10-4 and also made him the program's single-season leader in triples with nine.
Matthew McHugh finished off the ninth inning for NM State's 35th victory of the season while Frakes picked up his fourth win of the season on the mound.
By The Numbers
NM State batted .556 (5-for-9) at the plate with a runner on third while Aggie lead-off hitters went 6-for-8 (.750) on the night…NM State had a whopping 10 hits with runners on base…
Marcus Still finished the night 3-for-4 at the dish while scoring three
Odds & Ends
NM State took home their 35th win of the season, a total last accomplished in 2012…
Joey Ortiz finished the night with a season-high four RBI
Up Next
Saturday's series finale with CSU Bakersfield has moved up an hour and will now start at 11 a.m. (MT). The Aggie baseball program will also honor 13 seniors postgame at Presley Askew Field.
