LAS CRUCES, N.M. – After scuffling for eight innings, the NM State offense exploded for five runs in the ninth inning. The effort was not enough as California Baptist led 8-0 heading into the final frame, taking a 8-5 victory on Friday to secure the series.
 
The offense struggled for the first 24 outs of the ballgame for NM State. Following a leadoff double by Keith Jones II, the Aggies would not see another baserunner until Mitch Namie drew a one out walk in the fifth inning. The Aggies would not get their second hit until the seventh inning when Nick Gore singled through the right side.
 
California Baptist jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning, powered by three hits off of NM State starter Pablo Cortes. Following the early success, Cortes would settle into a groove, retiring nine consecutive hitters. The Juaréz, Chihuahua, Mexico native matched his season-high with eight strikeouts on Friday night.
 
In the sixth, the Lancers would use back-to-back RBI singles to push three runs across as the lead grew to 5-0. In the top of the ninth inning, California Baptist launched a three-run home run into the night sky, pushing its lead to eight runs.
 
Down to its final out, the Aggies refused to surrender. After a Damone Hale single, Christian Perez and Nolan Funke ripped back-to-back RBI singles to end the Lancers' shutout bid. After Funke stole second base, Namie brought NM State within four with a two-run blast over the trees in left field.
 
After California Baptist turned to the bullpen, the Aggies immediately greeted the new arm with a double from Edwin Martinez-Pagani and an RBI single from Preston Godfrey. Unfortunately for the Aggie fans, the Lancers induced a soft fly ball to left field for the final out, erasing the Aggies' five-run effort.
 
Quick Hits

• Keith Jones II's first inning single extended his on-base streak to 15 games – The longest streak for an Aggie in 2023. Jones' hitting streak has also reached nine games, also the longest mark of the season for an Aggie.
• Following the Jones double, the next 13 NM State hitters were retired before Mitch Namie drew a walk in the fifth inning.
• Aaron Treloar and Tyler Hoeft both worked scoreless innings out of the bullpen for NM State.
• Pablo Cortes took the loss on Friday, falling to 1-4 on the season.
• Cortes matched his season-high with eight strikeouts.
• The Aggies committed a season-high five errors.