LAS CRUCES, N.M. –  Looking to bounce back from a marathon loss on Friday night, the NM State baseball team looked to win in a sprint on Saturday. In a game that took just 2:33 to complete, the Aggies fell after Seattle U scored the go-ahead run with two outs in the ninth inning.  
 
The Redhawks jumped on the board in the first inning after having the first three runners reach base. Pablo Cortes managed to escape the jam with just one run, striking out the final two batters of the inning.  
 
NM State managed to get the run back and tie the game in the second when AJ Garcia bounced out to the shortstop, scoring Preston Godfrey from third base. Seattle struck back in the third inning to retake a 2-1 lead. 
 
Wasting no time, the Aggies got tied the game at two when Kyle Westfall launched a home run to left field. The long ball was the first of Westfall's career as an Aggie. 
 
In the fourth again, the Aggies and Redhawks once again traded runs to keep the game at three. Godfrey once again scored when Garcia hit into a fielder's choice. 
 
For the next four innings, the teams swapped scoreless innings as the pitching staff settled in. Brendon Rodriguez threw 2.1 innings in relief for the Aggies, striking out six before leaving in the ninth inning. 
 
With two away in the ninth inning, a throwing error allowed the Redhawks to plate the go-ahead run. Down to their last at-bats, the Aggies were in search of some magic. Unfortunately, the Aggies went down in order as Seattle U clinched the series victory. 
 
Quick Hits 

• The loss is the first time NM State lost a series in the 2022 season. It is also the first time NM State has lost back-to-back games. 
• Brandon Dieter and Logan Gallina combined for five of the six hits for the Aggies. 
• Pablo Cortes and Brendon Rodriguez combined to fan 13 hitters on Saturday afternoon. 
• Despite not recording a hit, AJ Garcia drove in a pair of runs.

On-Deck 
The Aggies will look to bounce back from the loss on Sunday against Seattle U. The series finale will get underway at noon from Presley Askew Field and the action will be streamed on the WAC Digital Network.  
 
For complete coverage of NM State baseball throughout the Aggies 2022 campaign visit NMStateSports.com - the official home of Aggie athletics - and follow the Aggies on Facebook (NM State Baseball), Twitter (@NMStateBaseball) and Instagram (@NMStateBaseball). 
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