LAS CRUCES, N.M. - A three-game set against one of the top teams in the country is on deck.

The Aggies begin an eight-game away stretch this weekend with a trip to College Station, Texas, to face #20 Texas A&M. The series at Olsen Field at Blue Bell Park begins Friday night.

HOW TO FOLLOW
All three contests will be broadcast on SEC Network+. Will Johnson (play-by-play), Mark Johnson (color) and Boomer White (color) have the call.

Fans can also catch Adam Young's call of the game via the Aggie Sports Network on 99.5 FM Zia Country.

PROBABLE STARTERS
Friday, March 6 at 5:30 p.m.
NM State: RHP Chance Hroch (2-0, 3.79 ERA)
Texas A&M: LHP Asa Lacy (2-0, 1.06 ERA)

Saturday, March 7 at 5:30 p.m.
NM State: RHP Chris Barraza (2-0, 1.80 ERA)
Texas A&M: RHP Christian Roa (2-1, 4.60 ERA)

Sunday, March 8 at 12 p.m.
NM State: RHP Chris Jefferson (2-0, 1.00 ERA)
Texas A&M: TBA

THE LATEST ON NM STATE
The Aggies enter Friday night's series open with a 12-1 overall record, matching its best 13-game start in program history. The 2009 squad is the only other team in school history to begin a campaign with wins in 12 of its first 13 contests.

NM State's hot start under first-year head coach Mike Kirby has made waves around college baseball. The Aggies are receiving votes in the USA TODAY Sports baseball coaches poll and the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association poll.

Infielder Nick Gonzales continues to tear the cover off the ball. He picked up national recognition from Collegiate Baseball Newspaper for the second time this season after slugging NM State to its third consecutive series sweep last weekend.
 
The Vail, Ariz., native slashed .467/.619/1.467 with five homers, 10 RBI, nine runs scored, six walks (four intentional) and three stolen bases in the Aggies' four-game takedown of the Mastodons. He extended his on-base streak to a nation-best 79 consecutive games, which dates back to the 2018 season.

The All-American hit an unprecedented five home runs in a single day against Purdue Fort Wayne, knocking two out of the park in Saturday's first game before clobbering three in game two. He drove in seven runs, including four on his inside-the-park grand slam, in the nightcap, marking the third time this year that he has recorded seven or more RBI in a game.

SCOUTING TEXAS A&M
Texas A&M is 11-3 overall on the year, having lost three of its last four games. The other Aggies, however, come into the series with a 13-game home win streak, including 11 victories in 2020.

Friday's starter Asa Lacy enters the weekend ranked 10th among NCAA active pitchers in career strikeouts with 211. The southpaw, who ranks fifth in the nation in strikeouts (33) and strikeouts per nine innings (17.47) this season, is the only active pitcher in all of collegiate baseball with over 200 strikeouts and under 150 innings pitched.

The nationally ranked Aggies' bats are powered by Zach DeLoach. The catcher ranks in the top 20 in the nation in numerous offensive categories and is slashing .487/.632/.872 on the year.

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