SEATTLE - Getting hits wasn't the problem for the NM State baseball team Monday evening at Bannerwood Park, but getting them at the right time was as the Aggies dropped a 6-1 decision to Seattle U in the fourth and final game of a WAC series in the Pacific Northwest.
SCORING PLAYS
B1 | NM State starter Chris Barraza needed just three pitches to record his first out, but the Redhawks jumped in the right-hander after that. A double, a walk and a single loaded the bases with one down and the home team managed to push two runs across. Trying to turn an inning-ending double play, Brandon Dieter got the out at second but his relay throw to first was offline which allowed a pair of Redhawks to touch home plate.
T2 | A flurry of hits from the bottom of the Aggies' order allowed them to cut the Redhawks' lead in half. With two outs, Jason Bush, Noah Haupt and Cal Villareal each connected on singles off of Seattle U starter Riley Sinclair. Villareal's single pushed Bush home from third and pulled the visitors within one, 2-1.
B2 | Seattle U regained its two-run lead, using a leadoff walk to get the job done. Shane Jamison drove Chase Wells in with an RBI single to left and Barraza loaded the bases again before getting pulled in favor of Cam Blazek. In his NM State debut, Blazek ended the threat by notching an inning-ending strikeout which kept Seattle U's lead at 3-1.
B4 | The Redhawks' kept increasing their lead with another run in the fourth. Julian Kodama's two-out RBI single put NM State at a 4-1 disadvantage.
B5 | Some confidence on the base paths allowed Seattle U to tack on another run. With one out and Ben Des Rosiers on the mound, Matt Boissoneault stole home with two down to push the hosts' lead to 5-1.
B8 | Seattle U's final run came as a result of a perfectly executed squeeze play. Kyle Sherick laid down a sacrifice bunt which allowed Wells to come home and make matters 6-1.
AT THE DISH
• NM State stranded nine runners on the base paths - including seven in scoring position - in its third loss in the last four games.
• Leading the Aggies' nine-hit attack was Bush and Kevin Jimenez who finished with two hits apiece. Jimenez reached base a total of four times as he drew two of the Aggies' four walks.
• Jamison and Kodama each collected a trio of hits to lead Seattle U. The Redhawks generated 11 total base knocks in the series finale.
ON THE HILL
• Riley Sinclair (1-2) took home the win by tossing 4 2/3 innings of one-run ball. Seattle U's right-hander fanned three Aggies and gave up only one run on five hits and four walks.
• Barraza (1-2) lasted 1 2/3 innings and was hit with the loss. NM State's senior surrendered three runs (two earned) on four hits and an equal number of walks.
• Des Rosiers worked three innings in relief, letting up one run on four hits. He also registered two of NM State's three strikeouts.
COMING UP NEXT
• With one-third of their 12-game road trip in the books, the Aggies are bound for Eugene, Ore., for a four-game set with a nationally-ranked foe. NM State and 19th-ranked Oregon will meet on the diamond for a non-conference series which begins Thursday at 5:00 p.m.
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