OREM, Utah – The New Mexico State baseball team cut it close but was able to hang on to a 12-11 victory Saturday afternoon over Utah Valley at UCCU Ballpark for its fifth-straight series win.
 
NM State (28-10, 11-4 WAC) got things going to start the game, loading the bases with two outs before Eric Mingus was hit on a 1-0 pitch to score Tristen Carranza from third to give the Aggies a 1-0 lead before Chance Hroch took the mound. Like last night, UVU did not back down against the Aggies and led off with a pair of singles followed by a fielder's choice before another single up the middle tied things up.
 
Jason bush led things off with a walk in the next frame before a single from Ortiz put two on for Nick Gonzales – who came in clutch with a single to right to score Ortiz. In the next at-bat, Tristen Carranza took a 1-1 curveball way over the left center fence for his 16th homer of the season. A single and hit by pitch once again to Ehnes put two runners on, but UVU's starter was able to get out of the inning and keep the Wolverines within striking distance (5-1).

WATCH | GOOOOOOD BYE! @tripeca_5 takes a 1-1 curveball for a RIDE over the left CF for the 3 run homer and 5-1 lead! That's his 16th of the season!#AggieUp pic.twitter.com/3VuqknrE4e

— NM State Baseball (@NMStateBaseball) April 20, 2019

 
After the Aggies were retired in order in the top of the third, UVU (9-30, 6-9 WAC) mounted its comeback and touched up Hroch with a four spot of its own on four hits. Aldo Fernandez, who came in relief of Hroch, was able to get the next batter to line out to himself and keep it tied 5-5.
 
New Mexico State then chased off Utah Valley's starter Walker Ramsey when he walked 3-of-4 batters to start the fourth. With the bases loaded, Mingus plated a pair of runs after the centerfielder wasn't able to field the ball cleanly. Two more runs crossed the plate for NM State after Kevin Jimenez grounded out to first to score Ehnes before UVU's Cole Yocum was called for a balk – which scored Mingus for the 9-5 lead.
 
Utah Valley put up straight numbers in the fourth and fifth fames on sacrifice hits to cut the NM State lead to 9-7 before the Aggies answered with another crooked number in the sixth to lead 12-7 thanks to some sloppy defense from UVU.
 
However, the Wolverines didn't back down and loaded the bases after Justin Schubert sandwiched a single with a pair of walks – which ended the day for the freshman righty. Andrew Edwards came in and got an immediate strikeout after falling behind 3-0, but back-to-back singles allowed two runs to score and cut the NM State lead to 12-9 through six frames.
 
New Mexico State had an opportunity to extend its lead in the seventh but wasn't able to score after Mingus hit into a double play that ended the inning with the bases loaded. Like the Aggies, Utah Valley had an opportunity in its half of the frame, but Edwards was able to induce a double play and ground out to end the threat – holding the 12-9 lead for NM State.
 
 
UVU's rally in its half of the eighth saw the leadoff hitter get a double, move to third on a wild pitch and score on a single up the middle to make it a 12-10 Aggie lead. Wyatt Kelley was pulled after giving up a single to put runners on the corners with two outs after entering the game in the eighth. Matthew Munden, who made his second-straight appearance, was able to get Utah Valley's Trevor Howell to fly out to Carranza to keep NM State on top 12-10.
 
The Aggies had an opportunity to add some insurance runs in the ninth frame with Gonzales and Carranza reaching on a hit by pitch and walk, respectively. That walk to Carranza forced UVU to make a pitching change that saw Kohl Hostert get Peterson to strike out looking before getting Ehnes to hit into the 6-3 twin killing to end the threat.
 
After getting the first out in the bottom of the ninth, Munden gave up a solo shot to right for the second time in as many days and made it a 12-11 game as NM State calling on Keaton Graf from the pen. The redshirt senior came in and slammed the door on UVU, getting a strikeout and flyout to right to end the game and pick up his first save of the season.
 
Both teams combined to strand 23 runners Saturday afternoon in the offensive rubber match. Fernandez walked away with his second win of the season in relief of Hroch and moves to 2-2 on the year after.
 
Carranza and Mingus each had three RBI to pace the Aggies while Gonzales, Carranza and Peterson combined to go 7-for-12 on the day with six runs scored. NM State had to go deep into its bullpen for the second-straight day, using up six relievers in the win.
 
The Aggies now return home for an afternoon matinee contest against Sul Ross State on Tuesday, April 23, at 3 p.m. (MT) before heading to the Golden State for a three-game series against Sacramento State – who the Aggies are trailing by one game in the standings.