TUCSON, Ariz. – Facing a Power Five foe in Arizona, NM State was outmatched on Tuesday night. The Aggies fell 14-2 to the Wildcats as Arizona used nine extra base hits, including four home runs, to power itself to victory.
 
After being held scoreless in the first inning, Arizona exploded for eight runs in the second to take a commanding lead, never looking back. The Wildcats tacked on three additional runs in the fourth and two in the fifth, pushing the game to 13-0.
 
The Aggies were held hitless until the fifth inning when Arizona native Christian Perez led off the frame with a single.
 
Playing in front of his hometown crowd, Romeo Ballesteros roped a double into left field to lead off the sixth inning. Ballesteros came around to score, breaking up the shutout, on a groundout from Keith Jones II. Later in the frame, Kevin Jimenez scored off of a Nick Gore single through the left side.
 
Out of the bullpen, NM State saw back-to-back scoreless innings from Saul Soto and Sakemi Sato. Arizona managed to put a fourteenth run on the board with a solo shot to right field in the eighth, snapping the scoreless streak.
 
NM State will be back in action on Friday as the Aggies host Stephen F. Austin for a three-game set in Las Cruces. Both Friday and Saturday's contests will start at 6:00 p.m. before Sunday's series finale kicks off at noon.  
 
Quick Hits

• Tyler Hoeft takes the loss in the midweek tilt, falling to 0-5 in 2023.
• Keith Jones II saw his hit streak (10) and on-base streak (16) draw to a close. Nolan Funke and Nick Gore now lead NM State with 12 consecutive games reaching base.
• NM State used nine pitchers in the Tuesday contest.
• The Aggies were outhit 15-4 on Tuesday
• Christian Perez was the lone Aggie to reach base multiple times, singling and drawing a walk.