LAS CRUCES, N.M. – NM State rallied late but could not overcome an early deficit, falling 17-12 to FIU on Thursday night at Presley Askew Field at Johnson Stadium in a high-scoring series opener. With the loss, the Aggies drop to 19-33 overall and 8-20 in Conference USA play.
The Aggies grabbed an early lead in the first inning as
Boston Vest delivered a two-run double down the left-field line, but FIU responded immediately with a six-run second inning and added two more in the third to take control.
NM State chipped away throughout the middle innings, highlighted by a two-run home run from
Aidan Taclas in the fifth and an RBI single from
Camden Kaufman in the sixth. The Aggies also manufactured a run in the seventh.
After FIU extended its lead with a four-run sixth and a three-run eighth, NM State mounted its biggest push in the bottom of the eighth.
Steve Solorzano launched a grand slam to cap a six-run inning, and the Aggies pulled within three late. FIU answered with two runs in the ninth to halt any comeback hopes and secure the win.
NM State finished with 12 hits in the loss, led by Solorzano's four RBIs, three runs scored, and eighth-inning home run. Taclas added two hits and two RBIs, while
Aidan Lombardi recorded a three-hit performance.
NOTABLES
- Steve Solorzano logged his second grand slam of the season and extended his hitting streak to 14 games to mark the longest active streak by an Aggie. He also posted his 19th multi-hit game of the year – the most by any Aggie this year.
- With another hit-by-pitch, Boston Vest set a new program record for a single season as he has now been hit by 22 pitches this year. This surpasses the previous record held by Tristan Carranza, who was hit by 21 pitches in both 2018 and 2019.
- Camden Kaufman drew three walks on Thursday night to mark the fourth time this season that he has earned multiple walks, including a four-walk day on March 27 against Middle Tennessee.
- Colton Sneddon matched his longest outing as an Aggie, throwing 3.1 innings.
- Easton Rulli drew a season-high two walks.
- NM State has now posted 10 or more hits in 25 games this season.
- The Aggies' eight walks was their most in the last nine games.
- The loss marked the second time this season that the Aggies lost despite scoring 10 or more runs.
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