LAS CRUCES, N.M. – The New Mexico State baseball team gets set for a midweek tilt on March 20 in Tucson, Ariz. at Arizona on Hi Corbett Field. First pitch for Tuesday's contest is slated for 7 p.m. MT. This is the second meeting of the season between the Aggies and Wildcats.
LISTEN UP!
Aggie fans that can't make it to the game can listen to Adam Young (@youngpbp) this Tuesday on 99.5 FM Zia Country. Fans can also listen to the game live with their mobile or tablet device on the TuneIn app for free.
FOLLOW ALONG
Fans can also follow the game in real time with live stats on
StatBroadcast.
GET CONNECTED
Get up to the minute information and news about the NM State baseball team all season on Twitter, and Instagram by following @NMStateBaseball and on Facebook.com/NMSUAthletics.
SCOUTING THE WILDCATS
Entering the midweek clash, Arizona sits at 10-9 overall with an 0-3 mark in PAC-12 play. The Wildcats have dropped their last three contests being swept in a weekend series at Washington, March 16-18.
As a team, Arizona posts a .251 batting average with 38 extra-base hits and 87 runs batted in. The Wildcats are led at the plate by Cesar Salazar who boasts a team-high .365 average. Cal Stevenson and Cameron Cannon are also hitting above .300 with a .305 and .300 batting average, respectively.
On the mound the Wildcats have a 2.42 earned run average as a staff with 132 strikeouts over 171.0 innings of work. Three pitchers lead Arizona in appearances out of the bullpen with eight apiece. Tyler Megill is the leader out of the pen with 14 strikeouts through 14.0 innings with a 1.93 ERA.
The first meeting of the season between the Aggies and Wildcats saw the Crimson & White strike first in the midweek contest but a five-run fourth inning for Arizona was too much to overcome as the Aggies fell 5-4.
IN THE NATION
One month into the 2018 season the NM State baseball team currently ranks in the top-20 in 11 different categories across the NCAA, including eight within the top-10:
NM State (Rk) Category NCAA
.449 (1st)
OB% .449
215 (1st)
Runs 215
10.2 (2nd)
Scoring 10.9
241 (3rd)
Hits 255
.336 (4th)
Batting Avg. .351
.533 (7th)
Slugging % .621
50 (8th)
Doubles 61
3 (10th)
Shutouts 7
.982 (13th)
Fielding Pct. .993
26 (14th)
Home Runs 40
114 (20th)
Walks 140
LAST TIME OUT
This past weekend saw NM State sweep Maine in a four-game series at Presley Askew Field. In game one the Aggies trailed by three in the seventh, but crushed a pair of home runs to take 6-5 lead, which stood as the final and the Crimson & White took the series opener.
A strong night at the plate powered the Aggie to dominant wins in each game for Saturday's doubleheader. The first game of the day saw the Aggies take a 10-6 victory followed by a 14-7 win in game two to give the team a 3-0 series lead over the Black Bears.
Combining for five scoring innings, including three multi-run frames, the Aggies swept the series with an 8-5 win in the finale.
UP NEXT
Following the midweek clash at Arizona, New Mexico State returns home to open Western Athletic Conference play. The Aggies host Seattle U for a three-game weekend series, March 23-25, at Presley Askew Field.
