EDINBURG, Texas – The New Mexico State baseball team took on Western Athletic Conference opponent UT Rio Grande Valley in game two of the final regular season series at UTRGV Baseball Stadium on Friday night. Another record-night on the mound helped lead the Aggies to a game two victory over the Vaqueros, 4-2.
 
Just like the series opener, the NM State (36-18, 17-6 WAC) offense got going early. With two outs in the top of the first, Caleb Henderson turned on a breaking ball from UT Rio Grande Valley (22-31, 7-16 WAC) starter Chase Adams for an absolute no-doubter that traveled well over the wall in left field. This solo home run gave the Aggies a 1-0 lead to open.
 
Following the early production, NM State starter Jonathan Groff got to work on the mound. The senior began his final regular-season start by tossing four consecutive one-two-three innings to hold the Vaqueros scoreless. UTRGV could not compete with Groff at the dish and did not get a runner on base until a base on balls in the bottom of the fifth.
 
In the top of the sixth, the Aggies one-run lead expanded after a misplay by the Vaqueros left fielder. Henderson stood on first when Logan Ehnes laced a double down the left field line that was booted by the outfielder and the junior showed off his wheels getting all the way home to score a pair of runs and put NM State ahead 3-0.
 
Then in the seventh inning, Nick Gonzales put another run up on the board. The freshman led off the inning with the Aggies second dinger of the ballgame that gave NM State a 4-0 lead heading into the seventh-inning stretch.
 
The bottom half of the seventh was where the score got close. The Vaqueros had a runner on second base when Groff allowed his first hit of the game that also scored the first run for UTRGV. Another base knock then left runners on the corners when the Vaqueros hit one down the right field line that was cut off by Ehnes to only allow one run and the Aggies lead stood at 4-2 through seven innings.
 
Brock Whittlesey then came to the mound in the eighth and registered the final five outs of the game, including three strikeouts, to secure the 4-2 victory and get the road series win for the Aggies heading into the finale.
 
Groff (10-2) earned the win after his fourth-straight quality start saw him record seven punch outs in 6.2 innings of work. The 10^th win tied the Castroville, Texas native with five other Aggies for the most single-season wins in program history and is the first time it has been done since 2011. Whittlesey also etched his name in the record book picking up his 10^th save, which set a new single-season record at NM State.
 
The series and regular-season finale between New Mexico State and UT Rio Grande Valley is set for 11 a.m. MT on Saturday, May 19, at UTRGV Baseball Stadium. Fans can listen to the game live on 91.5 FM KRUX with Adam Young on the call.