LAS CRUCES, N.M. – The New Mexico State baseball team took on Western Athletic Conference challenger Chicago State in game two of a three-game weekend series. Three late home runs led the Aggies to a 12-7 victory over the Cougars and a series win with the 2-0 lead.
NM State (22-13, 8-3 WAC) sent southpaw
Jonathan Groff to the mound and was countered by Joe Fitka for Chicago State (5-26, 0-11 WAC). Each pitcher cruised through the first two innings holding the sides scoreless before the teams were able to hang a few crooked numbers on the board in the third.
The Cougars got going first in the top half in a frame where errors were prominent. Back-to-back infield errors allowed CSU to get the first runner across the plate. This was followed by a ground out to second base which brought home a man from third and then a throwing error gave the Cougars one more to put the Aggies down 3-0.
This lead did not last long, however, with NM State answering in the next half inning. Following two free passes, another walk by the Cougars loaded the bases with just one out in the bottom of the third. This was followed by another base on balls to bring in the first run for the Crimson & White.
With the bases still juiced,
Trey Stine sent a sacrifice fly to bring in another run as the Aggies trailed by just one, 3-2. Another walk loaded the bases once again and
Caleb Henderson laced a triple to right center to bring in three runs and give NM State the lead.
Tristen Carranza was next at-bat and knocked a double to the gap to score Henderson for a 6-3 score in favor of the Aggies.
The Cougars chipped away at the deficit in the top of the fourth when a two out double brought in a pair of runners but Groff was able to close out the frame and hold the 6-5 lead.
In the bottom of the fifth inning, the Aggie bats got going again to add to their lead. Three straight plunked batters loaded the bases for NM State and
Marcus Still was able to knock a single to center field, which brought in another run for a 7-5 Aggie lead.
The errors continued to plague NM State in the sixth when a missed pickoff attempt advance the baserunner to third with no outs. A double to right brought in the Cougar before a passed ball put another runner on third base. CSU then knocked an RBI single to tie the game up at seven apiece.
After being held scoreless in the bottom half, the NM State got back on the board to regain the lead in the seventh. With one man on and one out,
Nick Gonzales crushed a home run over the left field wall to put the Aggies ahead 9-7.
NM State then added some insurance runs in the eighth with a couple more dingers. Following a leadoff double by Stine,
Logan Ehnes turned on a pitch that was a no-doubter to right and expanded the lead to 11-7. Henderson followed up to make it back-to-back homers when he launched a solo shot and the Aggies led 12-7.
Brock Whittlesey then came back out in the ninth inning and shut down the CSU batters to secure the 12-7 win for NM State and earn his fifth save of the season.
Chance Hroch (4-1) earned the win after a strong inning in relief.
New Mexico State and Chicago State now close out the weekend series with the finale on Sunday, April 15, at 12 p.m. MT.
