LAS CRUCES, N.M. – The New Mexico State baseball team returns home from its four-game road swing with a Tuesday, April 23, matinee match up against Sul Ross State at The 'Skew. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m. in the WAC Digital Network broadcast.
 
Christopher Barraza (0-1, 4.91 ERA) will get the ball for NM State while the Lobos have yet to decide who they'll be throwing Tuesday.
 
ROAD TRIP REWIND
The Aggies returned from their four-game road trip where they went 3-1, including an 11-8 extra-innings win over Battle of I-25 rival New Mexico. The win gave NM State its sixth-straight victory over UNM, which was a first in program history.
 
New Mexico State then headed to Utah Valley for a three-game series where it took 2-of-3 from the Wolverines. With Easter Sunday, the series started on Thursday and saw Brock Whittlesey pitch a gem. The righty tossed a complete game (7 innings) thanks to a 14-0 run-ruling of UVU, striking out five while only surrendering four hits on the night to move to 5-1 on the season. He was aided by an eight-run seventh that was capped off by a 3-run jack from Tristen Carranza.
 
The second game of the series was much tighter and saw both teams exchanging leads that ended in a walk-off for the Wolverines. In the rubber match, it was much like the second game with both squads squandering leads before a three-run inning in the sixth gave NM State the eventual 12-11 victory despite UVU's attempt at a rally in the later innings.
 
DOMINANT WEEK AT THE PLATE AND ON THE MOUND
After a big week at the plate and stellar outing on the mound, New Mexico State baseball's Tristen Carranza and Brock Whittlesey were named the Western Athletic Conference Hitter and Pitcher of the Week.
 
This is the second hitter of the week honor for Carranza and sixth for the Aggies while Whittlesey earned his first pitcher of the week honor and first for NM State this season as well.
 
Carranza, a power-hitting righty, went 8-for-17 with 10 RBI while scoring five with a pair of jacks in four games for the Aggies. The El Centro, Calif., product recorded multiple hits and multiple RBI in each game this week – including a 2-for-5 effort with two RBI with a run scored in an 11-8 victory over Battle of I-25 rival New Mexico in extra innings. Against league foe Utah Valley, the senior went 6-for-12 from the dish with eight RBI and four runs scored – including a pair of three-run bombs to bring his total to a league-leading 16. His .471 batting average was second on the team this week while his .941 slugging percentage was a team-high.
 
Whittlesey moved to 5-1 on the year as a starter after tossing a complete game shutout of Utah Valley in the series opener that ended in a 14-0 run-rule win. The Gilbert, Ariz., native finished the night with five strikeouts for his first complete game outing of the year.
 
THE OTHER LOBOS COME TO TOWN
Entering this Tuesday's meeting, NM State is 38-10 all-time against Sul Ross State and have won 14-straight games. The Last time the Lobos registered a win over New Mexico State came in the second game of a four-game series in 1988. Sul Ross State is 15-19 overall on the year and 11-10 in the American Southwest Conference.
 
Tim Johnson leads the team with a .403 batting average as well as a 1.201 on-base percentage and .721 slugging-percentage. The sophomore third baseman has 23 extra-base hits to his name with a team-best 41 RBI and 20 walks. Chris York isn't far off from Johnson, posting a .393 batting average with a 1.046 OPS, 42 hits, 16 XBH and 29 RBI.
 
As a team, the Lobos are hitting .317 at the plate with a .451 slugging-percentage. The pitching staff owns a 7.15 ERA and have surrendered 97 extra-base hits – 22 of which have come via the long ball. Opponents are hitting .303 from the dish against Sul Ross State pitchers and have drawn 5.6 walks per game.
 
UP NEXT
The Aggies will hit the road once again after hosting Sul Ross State, this time heading to the Golden State for a three-game series against Sacramento State – who the Aggies trail by a game in the league standings. First pitch is slated for 6 p.m. (MT) on Friday (April 26) and Saturday (April 27) with Sunday slated for a first pitch at Noon.