BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – The New Mexico State baseball team opened game one for its first road series in Western Athletic Conference play against CSU Bakersfield on Friday night at Hardt Field. The Aggie avoided a late scare from the Roadrunners and expanded their lead with five runs in the final two innings en route to a 9-3 victory.
 
NM State (17-13, 4-3 WAC) ace Kyle Bradish took the mound in the series opener against southpaw Alec Daily for CSU Bakersfield (10-18, 1-3 WAC). The Aggie bats struck first on the scoreboard following a quiet first inning.
 
In the top of the second, Caleb Henderson doubled down the right field line and a throw-out at the plate moved Henderson to third base with just one out. A hit batter put runners on the corners and the next at-bat saw a fielder's choice score the man from third for a 1-0 Aggie lead.
 
Bradish continued to deal and hold the Roadrunners scoreless before the Aggies got back on the board. The first out of the fourth inning saw a sacrifice bunt from Mason Fishback put a pair of runners in scoring position. David Bellamy then knocked a single to right field to plate one more run and give NM State a 2-0 advantage.
 
CSUB threatened in the bottom of the sixth when a two out walk got the 'Runners on base. A single to right field and a walk followed that to load the bases. However, Bradish was able to settle things down and force a fielder's choice ground out to short and get out of the jam for another scoreless frame.
 
NM State added to its lead in the next half inning. David Bellamy led off the top of the seventh with a walk, then Nick Gonzales laid down a bunt, and an error on the pitcher allowed him to reach safely. Marcus Still then put the runners on second and third with a sacrifice bunt before Joey Ortiz roped a single up the middle to bring home two runs and give the Aggies a 4-0 edge.
 
This four-run lead was cut into in the bottom half of the seventh. The leadoff hitter for CSUB knocked a single to right and then a throwing error on a stolen base put the man on third base with no outs. The next at-bat saw a single up the middle bring in the runner to get get the opposition on the board.
 
Following two pitching changes in the same inning, the Roadrunners were able to load the bases and a walk brought in their second run of the seventh. Following the third pitching change, CSUB floated a sacrifice fly to center to score one more run before the inning was over and the Aggies lead stood at 4-3.
 
With one out in the top of the eighth, the Aggies recorded back-to-back singles to put a runner in scoring position. Nick Gonzales then laced a double to right center that scored one run. Two batters later, Joey Ortiz launched a three-run homer over the left field wall to put NM State up 8-3 through eight innings.
 
The lead grew in the ninth inning following a Trey Stine reaching second on an error in center field. A fly out then put Stine just 90 feet from home plate and a wild pitch brought him in to give the Aggies a 9-3 lead into the bottom of the ninth. Brock Whittlesey was able to close out the game with a scoreless ninth inning and secure the 9-3 win for the Aggies in the series opener.
 
Kyle Bradish (4-1) earned the win with 6.0 innings pitched and six strikeouts. At the plate, NM State outhit CSUB 11-7 and was led by Joey Ortiz who had one home run and five runs batted in.
 
Game two of the weekend series between New Mexico State and CSU Bakersfield is set for Saturday, April 7, with first pitch slated for 7 p.m. MT.