ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – The New Mexico Sports Hall of Fame announced its 2018 Annual Award Winners. After a stellar 2018 season that featured the program's first-ever Western Athletic Conference Tournament title and first NCAA Regional appearance since 2012, the New Mexico State baseball team was honored as the NMSHOF College Team of the Year.
 
Following the announcement head coach Brian Green said, "What a tremendous honor to be selected as the New Mexico Sports Hall of Fame's Team of the year for 2018! Many teams had great campaigns last year, so to be singled out as the team of the year is beyond special. What makes it special for our team is that we speak about those things as a program a lot. We say that we recognize that it is a privilege to be a member of this team and promise to place the needs of the team above our own. In this context we are proud that we can create positive press and community relations for New Mexico State Athletics and New Mexico State University. At the end of the day that is our responsibility, to make this university better. Winning the award is a truly special honor. On behalf of a tremendous group of players, coaches and staff from the record 2018 team, we say thank you!"
 
The Aggie baseball squad wrapped up the historic season in 2018 that saw the team finish 40-22 with a 17-7 mark in Western Athletic Conference play. At season's end, NM State was ranked in the top-25 nationally in multiple categories. The Aggies led the NCAA in hit by pitch (119), were third in the country in triples (25), fourth in on-base percentage (.409), fifth in batting average (.310), sixth in runs (493) and scoring (8.0), ninth in hits (656), 10^th in slugging percentage (.478) and 21^st in doubles (123).
 
Several NM State players also cracked the top-25 with impressive seasons at the plate and on the mound. Jonathan Groff was fifth in the nation in victories (11), while Kyle Bradish was seventh in strikeouts (140) and Brock Whittlesey was 24th in saves (12). At the dish, Tristen Carranza was ninth in hit by pitch (21) and Mason Fishback was 23^rd in that category (19). Then slugger Caleb Henderson ranked 25^th in the country in runs batted in (65).
 
The Aggies also ranked first in the WAC in numerous categories at the end of the year. Along with the aforementioned batting average, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, doubles, triples, hits, hit by pitch and runs scored, NM State led the conference in six other categories. The Crimson & White finished in first in RBI (450), home runs (60), total bases (1,009), strikeouts (537), wins (40) and fielding percentage (.977).
 
The impressive statistics saw NM State and its players set multiple single-season program records. Bradish set a new record for strikeouts (140) that had stood since 1991 when Albert Montoya had 107. Whittlesey snapped a record held by three Aggie closers as he set the new single-season mark in saves (12) and Groff topped five former Aggies setting a new record in wins (11). At the plate, Tristen Carranza was disciplined and got plunked so many times he set a new record for hit by pitch (21).
 
As a team, the Aggies broke the record from 2009 for strikeouts in a season (537), set a new single-season record for hit by pitch (119) and broke a record set last year for fielding percentage (.977).
 
All the records and accomplishments led the Aggie players to rack up numerous postseason awards when the season was all said and done. At the end of the regular season, Groff was named WAC Pitcher of the Year and Nick Gonzales was WAC Freshman of the Year, which were both program firsts. The Aggies also led the conference with six All-WAC First-Team honorees including Mason Fishback, Caleb Henderson, Nick Gonzales, Joey Ortiz, Jonathan Groff and Kyle Bradish. Marcus Still also earned a second-team nod.

Then after winning the WAC Tournament the Aggies saw Bradish, Groff, Still and Whittlesey named to the All-Tournament team and Carranza earned WAC Tournament MVP honors.
 
Three Aggies also combined for seven All-American awards with Bradish being named a Perfect Game/Rawlings Third-Team All-American, while Groff was a Collegiate Baseball Second-Team All-American. Gonzales earned five Freshman All-American nods from Baseball America, D1 Baseball, the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association, Perfect Game/Rawlings and Collegiate Baseball. Groff and Bradish were also named to the Midwest ABCA/Rawlings All-Region Second Team.
 
The team is set to be honored with the six "Class of 2018" inductees at the 46th Annual Induction Banquet on April 7th at the Albuquerque Convention Center.
 
NM State also looks to carry on the momentum of last year as the team gets set for its 2019 season opener welcoming Texas Southern to Presley Askew Field for a four-game weekend series, Feb. 15-17.
 
New Mexico State baseball season tickets are available for just $75 general admission and $100 for reserved seats. Fans looking to purchase can visit Ticketmaster or call the Pan Am ticket office at (575) 646-1420.