OREM, Utah -- Despite erasing a 3-0 deficit and taking a 4-3 lead into the bottom of the seventh, the NM State Aggies baseball program dropped its series finale to Utah Valley, 7-5 Sunday afternoon at doTERRA Field at UCCU Ballpark.
The Aggies (19-27, 16-16 WAC) did earn the series split with Utah Valley (9-38, 7-25 WAC) after taking Friday's opener 6-3 and the nightcap of yesterday's doubleheader 10-7. UVU won the opener of Saturday's double dip, 4-2.
In defeat, Tommy Tabak was sensational for the Aggies, going 2-for-4 with an RBI at the plate. The centerfielder also made a diving catch in the second and a highlight reel catch in the fifth, crashing into the wall to save extra bases.
Ian Mejia (1-3) took the loss for the Aggies Sunday, as the righty ran into trouble in his second inning of work. Mejia threw a nine-pitch 1-2-3 sixth but allowed four runs (three earned) in the pivotal four-run Wolverine seventh.
Sophomore Cam Blazek earned the start for the Aggies and allowed an early run in the bottom of the first when Kevin Poulsen singled home Mitch Morales who led off with a double. The Fargo native limited the damage using a pair of strikeouts and a fly ball to escape further trouble.
After the two teams traded zeros in the second and third innings, Blazek again found trouble in the fourth. With two outs in the frame and a runner on first base, freshman Tavyn Lords pushed a triple down the first baseline that just eluded Zach Smits, giving UVU a 2-0 lead. Lords came around to score one batter later when Moralez singled home the outfielder.
A stolen base and a walk prompted a pitching change from the Aggies, as Josh Laukkanean entered in relief of Blazek. Laukkanean retired the first batter he faced on a lazy fly ball, ending the Wolverines rally. Blazek pitched 3.2 innings allowed seven hits and three runs.
NM State answered with a pair of runs in the top of the fifth, using a leadoff walk from catcher Jason Bush, a single from Tabak and a two-out walk by infielder Ethan Mann to load the bases with two outs. The next NMSU batter, Cal Villareal, ripped a two-run single through the right side that plated both Bush and Tabak.
After Laukkanean fired a scoreless bottom of the fifth, the Aggies again struck for a pair of runs in the top of the sixth, using back-to-back doubles from Smits and Ronnie Allen Jr to tie the contest at three. NM State later took a 4-3 lead on a two-out Zerek Saenz single.
Mejia entered for the bottom of the sixth and needed just nine pitches to retire the Wolverines in order.
The righty stayed in for the bottom of the seventh and immediately found trouble, when UVU used a pair of weak singles and a hit batter to load the bases with nobody out. Alexander Marco roped a two-run double to put the Wolverines on top 5-4, one batter later.
After an intentional walk loaded the bases again, Mejia got catcher Drew Sims to send a weak ground ball back to the mound. Trying to go home to start a 1-2-3 twin killing, the righty bobbled the ball. The error allowed UVU to take a 6-4 lead as the bases were still loaded with nobody out. Mejia eventually used a fly out that scored the fourth run of the inning, and a double play to stop the bleeding.
Down 7-4, the Aggies trimmed the deficit to just a pair in the eighth, using a one-out walk by Allen Jr, and back-to-back singles from Bush and Tabak to plate a run. UVU recovered to record the final two outs, as the Aggies stranded the tying runs on base in the eighth.
Shortstop Brandon Dieter entered for the bottom of the eighth and fired a zero, keeping the game 7-5. Needing a pair to tie, the Aggies got a lead-off double by Mann, but UVU's closer Spencer Triplett used a fly ball and back-to-back punchouts to seal the win. The save was Triplett's fourth of the season.
ON THE MOUND:
• Blazek failed to pitch at least four innings in a start for the first time this season. The righty threw 79 pitches in his outing today. Blazek struck out three.
• Laukkanean retired four of the five batters he faced. The righty erased the lone UVU batter to reach against him on a double play in the fifth.
• Mejia saw his nearly 14 inning (13.2) scoreless streak snapped. The righty allowed an earned run for the first time since April 20 at No. 9 Arizona.
• Dieter made his third appearance of the season and needed just 13 pitches to fire a zero. The shortstop last pitched back on April 27 against Benedict Mesa.
• The Aggies rolled two more double plays Sunday, bringing their total to 42 for the season. That number would have been second in the country entering the weekend.
AT THE DISH:
• Tabak continues to impress since returning from injury. His 2-for-4 day raised his average to .378. The Aggies are 8-4 since he returned to the starting lineup.
• The centerfielder is now riding a 13-game on-base streak.
• Tabak is 21-for-42 in the 12-game span. Â
• With his strong day Smits raised his average to .302.
• Six Aggies are hitting over .300 this season.
• Saenz recorded his 21st game with multiple hits this season. The outfielder is hitting a WAC-best .386 this season.
• The Aggies left 10 on base Sunday.
UP NEXT:
The Aggies will close out WAC play this weekend when first-place California Baptist visits the 'Skew for a four-game set. Friday's opener is set for a 3 p.m. first pitch and will be televised live on Bally Sports (AZ), Comcast New Mexico, the Bally Sports App and the WAC Digital Network.
