LAS CRUCES, N.M. – The New Mexico State baseball team opened up a four-game weekend series against La Salle on Friday night at Presley Askew Field. In a game that featured seven lead changes, the Aggies dropped a tight contest in the opener to the Explorers, 9-8.
 
For the Friday night contest, NM State (11-3) sent ace Brock Whittlesey to the mound against La Salle (7-3) starter Matt Holt. Each pitcher gave up runs in the first to open the scoring. The Explorers first run of the game came on a one-out single that scored a runner from second to put the Aggies behind 1-0.
 
Then in the bottom of the first, the Crimson & White got on the board. Logan Bottrell led off the game with a bunt single and Joey Ortiz followed up with a base on balls to get a pair on. In the next at-bat, NCBWA National Player of the Month Nick Gonzales kept his hot streak going as he crushed a ball over the left field wall for a three-run home run to put NM State ahead 3-1 at the end of the first inning.
 
La Salle then looked to cut into the NM State lead. This began with a one run top of the second to put the score at 3-2, but then the bases were left loaded. In the top of the third, the Aggie lead disappeared when with one man on, the Explorers saw a two-run home run to center put the Aggies behind 4-3.
 
The Crimson & White were then able to retake the lead in the bottom of the fourth. Logan Ehnes led off the frame with a walk to put the go-ahead run at the plate. This go-ahead run was Tristan Peterson who took advantage when he sent a two-run home run over the wall in left center to put NM State up 5-4.
 
In the game full of lead changes, the fifth inning saw each squad get on the board. The top half saw a double to the gap in right bring in a pair of runs for La Salle to take a 6-5 lead over NM State. This forced the Aggies to go to the bullpen and after the change; the Explorers next batter laced an RBI single through the right side that put the homme team behind 7-5.
 
For the bottom half of the fifth, Gonzales stayed hot with a leadoff double, which was followed by a base on balls for Tristen Carranza. Caleb Henderson then stepped to the dish and belted a three-run home to left center to put the Aggies ahead 8-7.
 
After a scoreless sixth, La Salle put up more runs in the top of the seventh. With two runners on and two outs, the Explorers saw a double to centerfield score both runs that put the Crimson & White behind 9-8.
 
Looking to mount a comeback, NM State's chances were put on hold with a minor rain delay in the bottom of the eighth. When play resumed, the Aggies looked to get back on the board but the Explorers had different plans and held NM State scoreless as the team fell in the series opener, 9-8.
 
At night's end, the NM State offense combined for 12 hits, led by Gonzales who went 4-for-4 with one home run and three runs batted in and Henderson who added a homer of his own with three RBI.
 
The New Mexico State baseball team looks to bounce back with a doubleheader against La Salle on Saturday, March 9, beginning at  1:05 p.m. MT on Presley Askew Field.