MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – NM State generated several scoring opportunities on Friday night at Reese Smith Jr. Field but could not keep Middle Tennessee at bay as the Aggies fell 7-5 in the series opener against the Blue Raiders.
 
Middle Tennessee tallied the game's first run in the bottom of the third, but the Aggies responded when Boston Vest doubled and later scored on a passed ball. NM State then surged ahead in the fifth behind a two-RBI double down the right field line that gave the Aggies a 3-1 advantage. The Blue Raiders quickly regained the lead with three runs in the bottom half of the frame.
 
NM State added more in the seventh as Aidan Taclas singled and scored on Tommy Meluskey's RBI triple, followed by a Vest sacrifice fly that extended the lead. Middle Tennessee later delivered the decisive blow in the bottom of the eighth inning as they broke a 5-5 tie with a two-RBI double.
 
On the mound, NM State used six pitchers, with JT Price allowing one hit across a pair of scoreless innings to open the night.
 
NOTABLES

• Aidan Taclas tallied his eighth multi-hit game of the year.
• Steve Solorzano now paces the Aggies in multi-RBI games with eight after a two-RBI effort on Friday night. Solorzano also moved his hit streak to eight games, matching the longest streak by an Aggie this season.
• Easton Rulli has now reached base in 17 consecutive games to mark the longest streak by an Aggie this year. Rulli also extended his hit streak to eight games, matching Solorzano and and Bryce Campbell for the longest hit streak on the team.
• Tommy Meluskey recorded his second triple of the season to move the team's total to 15 on the year. This remains the most by any team in college baseball this season.

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