OREM, Utah – A night after putting up the most runs against a Western Athletic Conference opponent in New Mexico State baseball history, a 24-1 series opening victory over Utah Valley, the Aggies took on the Wolverines in game two on Saturday night. The final score was closer than the opener but the Aggies still put up a run in eight of the nine innings to take down the Wolverines, 16-6.
 
How it happened
Marcel Renteria got the start for NM State (29-19, 13-4 WAC) against Utah Valley (15-29, 8-9 WAC) right-hander Jake Mayer. The scoring in the contest began early when a fielder's choice ground out to shortstop scored Brent Sakurai from third base in the first inning. The Wolverines answered in the bottom half when a double, followed by a single up the middle scored the man and tied the game at one.
 
With one out in the second, Greg Popylisen connected on a ball to center field for a stand-up double and then a Joey Ortiz single to right field brought him home for the go-ahead run. Renteria then pitched a one-two-three inning to hold the lead.
 
NM State added to their total in the third when Dan Hetzel had a lead-off hit to the warning track to put the senior on second base. Mason Fishback then roped a ball down the left field line to bring in Hetzel and give the team a 3-1 lead.
 
With one out and the bases loaded, the opponent brought in a run on a fielder's choice in the bottom of the third. Then Renteria plunked the next batter to load the bases once again and the Wolverines had a line drive double to right center score a pair to put the Aggies behind 4-3.
 
After a scoreless fourth inning for NM State, the opposition belted a two-run home run to right which then put the Aggies down three runs and brought Matthew McHugh to the mound in relief.
 
In the fifth inning, a pair off errors advanced Hetzel to third and Fishback knocked a single to center to bring the runner across the plate.  McHugh then held Utah Valley scoreless in the bottom half.
 
Trailing by two, a double to right in the sixth brought in Joey Ortiz and Austin Botello then doubled to right center which put the tying run on the board, 6-6. The senior hurler, McHugh, again came out and made easy work of the opponent putting them down one-two-three.
 
The top of the seventh saw NM State go on a two-out rally which began with a flare to left field which Marcus Still turned into a two-bagger. Popylisen then laced a single up the middle to bring in Still and put the Aggies out in front.  The team added to their lead with an RBI single from Ortiz and then a single through the left side from Sakurai to bring in the freshman and give the squad a 9-6 lead.
 
NM State widened their lead in the eighth when Dan Hetzel crushed a two-run home run over 430 feet to the deepest part of the ballpark in left center. After Utah Valley went to the bullpen, Tristen Carranza teed off on the new arm mashing a solo home run to the same part of the park to put the Aggies ahead 12-6.
 
The team added a few insurance runs in the ninth when a throwing error by the catcher scored Ortiz from third, Hetzel singled through the right side to bring in one more and Fishback crushed a two-run home run to give the Aggies a 16-6 lead.
 
Dalton Shalberg and Chris Butcher then held the Wolverines scoreless in the final inning and secured the 16-6 victory for NM State.
 
McHugh (3-2) picked up the win on the night. The NM State offense combined for 21 hits, including three homeruns, and a season-high seven steals. The strong night at the plate featured each Aggie with at least one hit and one run scored.
 
The final game of the weekend series for New Mexico State begins at 12 p.m. MT on Sunday, May 7. The game can be heard on 91.5 FM KRUX with Adam Young on the call.