LAS CRUCES, N.M. – NM State used a dominant offensive performance and a crucial late-game surge to claim a 13-8 victory over Oakland on Saturday evening at Presley Askew Field. The Aggies (7-3) racked up 13 combined hits and turned in a six-run seventh inning that put the game out of reach after a back-and-forth battle that spanned the first four innings.
 
Leadoff hitter Jonatan Clough set the tone for NM State, going 3-for-3 with four runs scored and an RBI. He ignited the offense early, scoring in the first and third innings to help the Aggies establish control. Steve Solorzano was also a significant force in the Aggies fifth-straight home win, driving in three runs on a 3-for-4 performance that included one of the Aggies' two triples on the night.
 
Oakland (1-10) kept things competitive in the early innings, taking a brief 3-2 lead in the third after a solo home run from Ben Clark. The Golden Grizzlies stayed within striking distance, tying the game at 5-5 in the fourth before NM State pulled ahead for good.
 
After a scoreless fifth and sixth, the Aggies exploded in the seventh, plating six runs on a combination of timely hitting and defensive miscues by Oakland. Beginning with true freshman Chris Daniels, the Aggies managed to bring in at least one run in five consecutive at-bats, highlighted by a two-RBI single from pinch hitter Brandon Forrester. An RBI double from Joey Craig also capped off his night which included a pair of hits, a home run and two RBIs.
 
On the mound, Hayden Lewis started for NM State, allowing six runs (three earned) over 3.1 innings before turning things over to the bullpen. Cooper Reese and Jake Carvajal combined to stabilize the middle innings, while Dylan Weekly (1-0) earned the win with two shutout frames to close the game.
 
NUMBERS OF NOTE

• The Aggies' 13-run performance marked their highest scoring outing of the 2025 campaign. Additionally, the Aggies also recorded season highs in RBIs (13), stolen bases (6) and triples (2).
• Jonatan Clough came around to score a career-high four times on Saturday which is the most by an Aggie this year. Clough also tallied a career best three stolen bases to set a new season high for an Aggie this season.
• Steve Solorzano became the fifth Aggie this season to log three RBIs in a single game – joining Tariq Freeny (2/15), Mitch Namie (2/16), Camden Kaufman (2/21) and Jonatan Clough (2/23).
• With an RBI single in the third inning, junior Mitch Namie extended his hit streak to 10 games which marks the longest hit streak of his three-year Aggie career.
• After helping the Aggies walk-off Oakland on Friday night, Aidan Lombardi logged his first career hit as an Aggie.
• Gianni Horvat finished the day 2-for-3 at the plate and recorded the first triple of his career. This is also his third multi-hit game of his career at NM State.
• True freshman Boston Vest earned the first collegiate start of his young career.
• Fellow freshman Cooper Reese tossed a career high 2.2 innings and allowed just one hit and no runs to finish with his most productive outing of his career.
• Joey Craig posted his second home run as an Aggie and his second double as an Aggie while finishing the night with a career high two RBIs.
• Dylan Weekly secured his first win at the collegiate level after finishing the game throwing 2.0 innings and gave up just one hit and no runs.

 
UP NEXT
NM State and Oakland will return to the diamond on Sunday afternoon for game three of the four-game series. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m.
 
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