LAS CRUCES, N.M. – The NM State Aggies are back at Presley Askey Field to host conference foe FIU in their first three game series since 2005. Game one of the series will start at 6 p.m. MT on April 19, game two is set to start at 2 p.m. MT on April 20 with the series finale starting at 11 a.m. MT on April 21.
 
Keith Jones II: Hitter of the Week (April 15)
Keith Jones II becomes the first Aggies to earn Conference USA Hitter of the Week. Powered by a .550 batting average and 13 RBIs on the week Jones picks up his second award in Conference USA.
 
Coming off a 3-1 week the Aggies have been led by Jones at the plate as he recorded 11 total hits in his 20 at bats, recording one single and three home runs. This past week Jones recorded a 1.050 slugging percentage for an OPS of 1.595.
 
With an astounding .407 batting average, Jones is now leading the conference. He is also leading the conference in OPS (1.275), SLG% (.763) and OB% (.512) on the season. Jones ranks inside the top three in each of the following statistics: hits (55), doubles (14), RBIs (46) and walks (28).
 
NM State On-Base Streaks
There are three Aggies that are currently on an on-base streak that is into double digits. Leading the way is Mitch Namie who is on a season high 18 game on-base streak. Both Jones and Damone Hale are on a 10 game on-base streak.
 
Four Aggies have reached base safely in seven consecutive games, Kade Benavidez, Edwin Martinez-Pagani, Steve Solorzano and Logan Gallina. Jones has the longest on-base streak in the season with 20 games.
 
Aggies are Hot
The month of April has severed the Aggies well as they are 6-3 on the month. They are currently on a three-game win streak as they won the series in the rubber match against Middle Tennessee and swept Tarleton in their two-game midweek contests.
 
The Aggies have now won six games of the last seven that they have played losing just one game against Middle Tennessee 10-9. NM State as scored at least eight runs in the past seven games that they have played.
 
With two extra inning wins in the past five games the Aggies have shown true grit winning both contests when they were the visitors. Both games went 11 innings where the Aggies managed to tie the game in the top of the ninth.
 
Scouting the Panthers
The Panthers as a team are hitting .288 on the season recording a total of 48 home runs and 251 RBIs. The Panthers offense ranks second in the conference in strike outs as they have struck out 314 times.
 
The Panthers as a pitching squad have an ERA of 5.27, they have allowed 264 runs on 338 hits. Logan Runde is leading the team with an ERA of 4.38 with three wins and two losses. Runde is also the only pitcher on the team that meets the minimum requirement of 1 IP/G.
 
Series History
The Aggies and the Panthers have played a total of 16 games against each other with the Aggies in control of the series with nine wins to FIU's seven wins. The upcoming series will be the sixth series between the two opponents.
 
These two teams first matched up against each other in 1998 where they played one game in Tempe, Ariz. to open the 1998 season, the Aggies won 5-4. From 2001 to 2005 the Aggies and the Panthers played in a three-game series alternating host sites.
 
Across the Conference
1. Liberty, 9-3
2. #25 DBU, 6-3
3. Louisiana Tech, 6-3
4. WKU, 8-4
5. FIU, 7-5
6. Sam Houston, 4-8
7. NM State, 4-8
8. MTSU, 4-8
9. Jax State, 3-9
 
UP NEXT:
The Crimson & White will play a three-game series against FIU, game one will start on April 19 at 6 p.m. MT, game two is at 2 p.m. MT on April 20 with the series finale starting at 11 a.m. on April 21. The Aggies will host Arizona on April 24 at 6 p.m. MT. For complete coverage of NM State Baseball, visit NMStateSports.com - the official home of Aggie athletics – and follow us on Twitter (@NMStateBaseball), Instagram (@NMStateBaseball) and like us on Facebook (NMState Baseball)

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