LAS CRUCES, N.M. - Finally appearing to be in business by starting the ninth with back-to-back hits, the NM State baseball team did manage to scratch a single run across but ultimately dropped a 3-1 decision to WAC adversary Grand Canyon in game two of a league doubleheader Saturday at Presley Askew Field.
SCORING SUMMARY
T1 | Once again, the Lopes managed to secure an early lead. Leadoff man Channy Ortiz reached on a throwing error by the Aggies' shortstop to lead off the game and moved into scoring position after Jacob Wilson drew a walk. Austin Duffy almost started an inning-ending double play when Elijah Buries sent a grounder to the Aggies' third baseman, but Buries barely beat the throw by Jimenez to Mann at first to keep the Lopes' inning going. A wild pitch from Natera then let Ortiz race home from third, giving the visitors a 1-0 lead.
T2 | Back-to-back one-out singles from the Lopes' Cade Verdusco and Josh Buckley allowed the visitors to get the necessary men on base to pad their lead. Hoping to pick off an overzealous Verdusco at second, Sammy Natera's try instead sailed into the outfield and allowed the Lopes' baserunners to move to second and third. From there, Johnny Weaver chopped a grounder over the head of Duffy at third, plating the Lopes' final pair of runs.
B9 | NM State found itself in business in its final set of at-bats. Ethan Mann and Ronnie Allen Jr., started the frame by striking for back-to-back singles off of GCU closer Frankie Scalzo. From there, Cal Villareal sent a grounder to first and upon trying to turn a double play the Lopes threw the ball away which allowed Mann to come around and cut the visitors' lead to 3-1.
AT THE DISH
• Allen Jr., led the way in the Aggies' seven-hit attack by going 2-for-3 with one of his team's two doubles. He reached base three times as did Zerek Saenz who delivered a hit and drew a pair of walks.
• All of the Lopes' hits came from the bottom third of their order. Buckley went 3-for-4 with a run scored while Verdusco and Weaver each generated a pair of hits.
• NM State's progress on offense was hindered substantially by the double-play ball. The Aggies grounded into a trio of rally-killers through the course of the showdown.
ON THE HILL
• Though he surrendered just a single earned run, Sammy Natera fell to 0-2 on the year after getting charged with the loss. The left-hander gave up four hits and all three GCU runs through his five frames of work while fanning four.
• Josh Laukkanen, Brendon Rodriguez and Ian Mejia combined to toss the final four frames of scoreless relief for the Aggies.
• Dawson McCarville amassed seven strikeouts through seven strong innings of action to move to 2-2 in 2021 for GCU. The Lopes' starter gave up five of the Aggies' seven hits, but didn't allow a run to cross home.
• Scalzo amassed his sixth save of the year by working the ninth. Through that inning, he struck out a pair and let up the Aggies' lone run on two hits and a walk.
ON DECK
• Hoping to salvage the final game of the series, the Aggies will return to Presley Askew Field Sunday at noon for the fourth and final game of their set with the Lopes. Making his first start as an NM State player is right-hander Cam Blazek (1-0).
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