OREM, Utah – Offense was abundant in Orem on Friday night as Utah Valley and NM State combined for 40 runs on 35 hits in the contest. The Wolverines got the best of the Aggies on Friday, winning 25-15 in seven innings.
Friday was anything but kind to NM State on the diamond. With Utah Valley jumping out to a 6-1 lead, the Aggies has plenty of work to do. The Aggies plated six runs in the third inning to take a 7-6 run on RBI singles from
Kevin Jimenez,
Preston Godfrey,
Nick Gore, and
Romeo Ballesteros.
Utah Valley matched the NM State third inning effort, pushing six runs across in the frame before trouncing NM State for nine runs in the fourth.
In the fifth inning,
Hunter Antillon and Ballesteros launched back-to-back home runs on consecutive pitches. With two outs in the frame,
Christian Perez mashed his eighth home run of the season, matching Jimenez for the team lead. The trio of deep flies brought NM State back within 9 heading to the bottom of the fifth.
With four additional runs in the bottom of the fifth, Utah Valley pushed its lead to 25-12. The 25-run mark matched the Utah Valley single-game record.
Adam Arroyo picked up his first hit in an NM State uniform in the sixth inning. Arroyo smashed a single through the right side of the infield, plating
Mitch Namie. With the RBI from Arroyo, NM State catchers combined to drive in four runs on Friday night.
After
Kade Benavidez fanned the side in the bottom of the sixth, Perez once again was cleared for liftoff. The freshman took the team lead with his ninth home run of the season, nearly reaching the interstate behind right field. While Perez brought the Aggies within 10, the Aggies needed to be within nine to keep playing.
Quick Hits
- NM State hit three home runs in the fifth inning.
- Adam Arroyo's first hit as an Aggie came in the sixth inning with an RBI single.
- Christian Perez took the team lead in long balls with a multi-homer night
- The multi-home run game was the second of the season for the freshman.
- Perez drove in four runs on Friday while Hunter Antillon drove in three.
- The Aggies scored in every inning but the first.
- Utah Valley matched its single-game scoring record on Friday night.
- The Wolverines scored 25 runs on just 17 hits.
- Kade Benavidez was the lone NM State pitcher to post a scoreless outing, striking out all three hitters he faced.
##NM State##
