TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The New Mexico State baseball team closed out the weekend series versus Alabama on Saturday at Sewell-Thomas Field. The Aggies and Crimson Tide were all tied up heading into the seventh inning but allowed the Crimson Tide to put three runs up on the board in the bottom half and the Crimson & White fell 5-2.
 
NM State (9-8) southpaw Jonathan Groff got the start in game three against right-hander Sam Gardner for Alabama (13-3). A pitching duel opened the contest with neither hurler allowing a run through the first three frames.
 
The Aggies jumped on the board with one swing of the bat in the top of the fourth. With two outs and no one on, Tristen Carranza crushed a solo home run to left center to put NM State ahead 1-0.
 
Groff's scoreless start lasted into the fifth but a double to lead off the inning put a runner in scoring position with no outs. A sacrifice fly then put the Crimson Tide 90 feet from home and a groundout to second brought the runner home to tie the game up at one.
 
The tie was broken in the bottom of the seventh when a double down the left field line scored the man on second to put NM State down 2-1. A pair of singles put two more on the board for Alabama to close out the inning as the Aggies trailed 4-1.
 
NM State looked to mount a comeback in the top of the eighth with the bases loaded and no outs. However, a 4-6-3 double play only brought home one runner and Alabama answered with one of their own in the bottom half to keep the Aggies down three, 5-2.
 
The Aggies were not able to close the gap in the ninth and dropped the series finale to Alabama, 5-2. At game's end the Aggies finished with more hits, 7-6, led by Carranza who went 2-for-3 with one homer but the seventh inning rally was too much to overcome.
 
New Mexico State now returns to the City of Crosses for a four-game weekend series against Maine, March 16-18, at Presley Askew Field.