LAS CRUCES, N.M. – It's almost time for one last WAC. NM State's home opener for the final season in the WAC takes place on Friday, March 24, beginning at 6:00 p.m. MT. The Aggies will host UTRGV for a quick three-game set over the weekend.
 
NM State will see Treyjen Meza and Pablo Cortes as the starting pitchers on Friday and Saturday, respectively. Sunday's starting pitcher has yet to be announced.
 
In the last meeting between the two squads, NM State blanked the Vaqueros 10-0 in the quarterfinals of the 2022 WAC Tournament. From there, the Aggies beat Sacramento State in the semifinals before slaying Abilene Christian 7-1 in the championship game.
 

Series Information
TV/Streaming	WAC Digital Network
Radio	91.5 FM KRUX
Tickets	Friday | Saturday | Sunday

 

Probable Pitchers
RHP Treyjen Meza (0-4, 4.45 ERA)	Friday	RHP Jesus Alday (2-2, 2.90 ERA)
RHP Pablo Cortes (1-1, 6.75 ERA)	Saturday	RHP Angelo Cabral (3-0, 1.99 ERA)
TBD	Sunday	RHP Colten Davis (2-2, 3.96 ERA)

 
Leading Off
·       Tuesday's win over New Mexico was the first for NM State since April 16, 2019. The victory also marked the first shutout for the Aggies pitching staff since May 26, 2022 when the Aggies blanked UTRGV in the WAC Tournament.
·       As a team, the Aggies are turning 1.00 double plays per game, good for the twelfth-best mark in the country and tied with California Baptist for the best in the WAC.
·       Noah Estrella has posted a 0.59 ERA over 15.1 innings out of the bullpen this season.
·       Kevin Jimenez doubled in NM State's Saturday win at Utah Tech, moving into third in school history with 48 career two-baggers.
·       Among active Division I players, Jimenez ranks eighth with 48 doubles and eleventh with 116 walks. Jimenez also currently sits at 198 career hits.
·       In last Tuesday's win against OUAZ, Keith Jones II and Nick Gore both picked up their first multi-home run games for NM State
·       NM State homered seven times last Tuesday against OUAZ, matching the second-highest single-game total by a Division I team this season.
 
News and Notes
STATEMENT VICTORY
On Tuesday, March 21, the Aggies blanked in-state rival New Mexico by a score of 2-0. Entering the contest, the Lobos were leading the nation in batting average (.347) and second in hits (250) before the trio of Darius Garcia, Noah Estella, and Matthew Maloney shut down the red-hot offense.
 
CARVE 'EM UP
On Saturday against Utah Tech, Pablo Cortes recorded a career-high eight strikeouts. On Sunday, Hayden Johns recorded career-long 2.1 innings out of the bullpen while fanning a career-high four hitters.
 
KEEP UP WITH THE JONES'
Against Ottawa (Ariz.), Keith Jones II became the first Aggie to homer twice in an inning since Tristan Peterson did so against Texas Southern on February 17, 2019. Jones II and Nick Gore both had multi-home run nights against the Spirit - Something an Aggie hadn't done since April 10, 2022 (Tommy Tabak vs. Sacramento State)
 
LIGHT TOWER POWER
Powered by the four home runs between Jones II and Gore, NM State launched seven home runs in the midweek tilt against OUAZ. The seven home run effort was the most by any team in the WAC this season and is tied for the second-highest total in a Division I game this season.
 
FOR THE RECORD...
Infielder Kevin Jimenez sits inside or near the top-ten in NM State school history for many offensive categories. With 48 career doubles, Jimenez needs just 13 this season to become NM State's all-time two-bag leader.
 
WALK IT OUT
Kevin Jimenez has drawn 116 career walks - The fourth most in NM State history. Jimenez passed Tanner White (2010-11) on February 25 vs. Northwestern State in Sugar Land, Texas. Jimenez sits four walks behind Chris Fanning (1988-91; 120) to move into a tie for third place.
 
ALL ABOUT PROSPECT-IVE
D1Baseball lists three NM State players on their list of the 25 Top Prospects in the WAC ahead of the 2023 MLB Draft. OF Keith Jones II leads the way at No. 18 with INF Logan Gallina right behind him, coming in at No. 20. The Aggies are also represented by RHP Noah Estrella, who appears at No. 25 on the list.