LAS CRUCES, N.M. – The New Mexico State baseball team hits the road for the first time in 2019 to take on No. 3 Texas Tech at Dan Law Field – Rip Griffin Park in Lubbock, Texas on Tuesday, Feb. 26, at 1 p.m. MT. This is the Aggies first trip to Lubbock since appearing in the 2018 NCAA Regional.
 
GET YOUR SEASON TICKETS NOW!
With the start of the 2019 season, Aggie fans can be a part of the action for all of the NM State home games, including two doubleheaders, with the purchase of their season tickets. 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.
 
GET CONNECTED
Get up to the minute information and news about the NM State baseball team all season on Twitter, and Instagram by following @NMStateBaseball and on Facebook.com/NMSUAthletics.
 
LIVE STATS
The midweek clash between NM State and Texas Tech can be followed with live stats through SideArm.
 
WHERE TO WATCH
Those looking to watch the game can do so through Texas Tech TV, which is a paid service through the opponent's website or on Roku and Apple TV. For the telecast, Robert Giovannetti and Mike Gustafson are set for the call.
 
LISTEN UP!
For Aggie fans that can't make it to the game, you can listen to Adam Young (@youngpbp) for the midweek contest on 99.5 FM Zia Country. Fans can also listen to the game live with their mobile or tablet device on the TuneIn app for free by searching Zia Country or by using the link on the team's schedule page online.
 
TAKING A LOOK AT TEXAS TECH
The top-five nationally ranked Texas Tech squad enters the midweek clash holding a 5-1 overall record. The Red Raiders recently swept Kentucky in a three-game series, Feb. 22-24.
 
Strong offensive numbers for TTU feature the team combining for a .319 batting average with 20 extra-base hits, including eight homers and 58 runs scored. On the base path, the Red Raiders are also 8-8 on stolen base attempts and in the field the opponent holds a .979 fielding percentage.
 
The Red Raider offense has been led by Braxton Fulford who is batting .467 with a pair of homers and four runs batted in. TTU also relies on Dylan Neuse who has a .360 average with five extra-base hits, including two homers, and a team-high 11 RBI.
 
On the mound, the Red Raiders staff combines for a 5.17 earned run average with 50 strikeouts to only 18 walks while holding opposing batters to a .294 average. TTU pitchers have only allowed 31 earned runs over 54.0 innings pitched so far this season.
 
ANOTHER ONE!
The Western Athletic Conference announced its baseball players of the week on Monday, Feb. 25. Another stellar performance at the plate in the past weekend series earned New Mexico State's Nick Gonzales his second-straight WAC Hitter of the Week honor.
 
This past weekend series versus Yale saw Gonzales pick up a hit in each of the Aggies' four games. The sophomore finished the week hitting .611 (11-of-18) from the plate, posting a 1.222 slugging percentage with six extra-base hits.
 
Gonzales drove in 11 runs and scored another seven as NM State took 3-of-4 from the Bulldogs. His strong play was highlighted in the first game of Saturday's doubleheader where the second baseman went 3-for-4 with a pair of home runs and six runs batted in. Then in the series finale Gonzales continued to roll going 3-for-5 with 5 RBI. On the season, Gonzales is hitting .675 with 19 runs scored, 27 RBI and six home runs.
 
LEADING THE NATION
Following a great pair of weekend series to open the year that saw impressive offensive numbers across the board and strong defense, the Aggies currently lead the NCAA in 10 different categories:
Category                           NM State Total
Batting Avg.                     .447
Double Plays                    10
Hit by Pitch                       27
Hits                                   135
Home Runs                      18
OB%                                 .554
Runs                                 146
Scoring                             18.3
Slugging %                      .758
Triples                               9
 
LAST TIME OUT
NM State's most recent series saw the team play host to Yale for a four-game weekend clash from Feb. 22-24. The Aggie offense continued to roll as they outscored the Bulldogs 48-22 en route to a 3-1 series win.
 
The series opener with Yale saw the bats for the Crimson & White get going early and often. Despite the Bulldogs putting up six runs, that was no match for an Aggie offense that put up runs in seven of the eight innings at the plate to take a 19-6 game one victory.
 
Game two started out as a pitcher's duel with only two runs going up on the board through the first four innings. Then the NM State offense got going again, highlighted by a seven-run bottom of the fifth that led the team to a 14-6 win. The second game of the doubleheader saw another pitcher's duel, but Yale prevailed in this one not allowing a late comeback as the Aggies fell 4-2.
 
Then in the series finale, Yale got on the board first taking a 2-0 lead in the opening frame and expanding the lead to 3-1 in the top of the third. However, that was as long as the opposition's lead would last as the Aggies produced 12 runs over the final six innings to take a 13-6 win and series victory over the Bulldogs.
 
UP NEXT
Following the trip to Lubbock to take on No. 3 Texas Tech, the New Mexico State baseball team returns home to open the month of March with a four-game weekend series against Delaware, March 1-3, at Presley Askew Field.