MESA, Ariz. – The No. 3 seeded New Mexico State baseball team opened up its Western Athletic Conference Tournament play against No. 6 CSU Bakersfield on Wednesday night at Hohokam Stadium. The Aggie offense produced four runs and that was enough as the rotation combined for a shutout after a great night on the mound and a 4-0 win for the Aggies.
 
NM State (37-19) starter and All-WAC First-Team honoree Kyle Bradish got rolling early including six strikeouts over his first eight outs of the contest. The start did not go as favorably for southpaw Alec Daily of CSU Bakersfield (20-35).
 
In the bottom half of the first inning, Logan Ehnes laced a single to centerfield that loaded the bases with just one out for the Aggies. Tristen Carranza then stepped to the plate and roped a double off the wall in left center that scored a pair of runs for a 2-0 lead in favor of the Crimson & White.
 
The Aggies were able to add to this lead in the bottom of the fourth. With a runner in scoring position, Marcus Still had a two-out base knock to center that scored Tristen Carranza from second and gave NM State a 3-0 advantage through four.
 
Following a pair of scoreless innings, the Aggies were able to add an insurance run in the bottom of the seventh. Caleb Henderson knocked a single to the gap in left center to put runners on the corners with just one out. Ehnes then grounded into a fielder's choice to short that brought home Joey Ortiz from third for a 4-0 Aggie lead.
 
CSU Bakersfield threatened in the bottom of the eighth, leading off the frame with back-to-back doubles. Closer Brock Whittlesey then got the next batter to strikeout swinging.  A double steal during the next at-bat saw catcher Braden Williams throw out the runner at third and the half inning ended with a fly out to center that preserved the Aggies four run lead.
 
Despite CSU Bakersfield getting a pair of runners on, Whittlesey was able to shut the door on the Roadrunners in the bottom of the ninth. The closer struck out the final batter to seal the 4-0 victory for the Aggies in their first game of the WAC Tournament. 
 
Bradish (8-3) picked up the win after tossing 7.0 innings, allowing just four hits and striking out 10 batters. This is the third-straight game the Aggie ace has had a double-digit number of punch outs and sixth on the season.
 
New Mexico State now advances to the quarterfinals taking on No. 2 Sacramento State at 4 p.m. MT on Thursday, May 24, at Hohokam Stadium in Mesa, Ariz.