The Hornets (19-18) scored eight runs on 10 hits with no errors while the Aggies (27-11) scored seven runs on nine hits with four errors. The four errors led to three unearned runs for Sacramento State.

 

New Mexico State scored at least one run in each of the first four innings to put the Hornets into another early jam. On Sunday, Sacramento State also gave up five runs through the first four innings.

 

And just like Sunday, when the Hornets scored six runs combined in the fifth and sixth to take a one run lead, head coach Reggie Christiansen’s squad tallied one run in the fifth on Monday before exploding for five runs in the sixth to take a one run lead.

 

The Hornets loaded the bases with no outs in the sixth after sophomore Justin Higley doubled, sophomore Will Soto drew a walk and senior Derrick Chung was hit by a pitch after a 10-pitch at-bat. Freshman Rhys Hoskins put the first run of the inning on the board with a sacrifice fly to center, and after junior Clay Cederquist singled to load the bases again, senior Trevor Paine hit another sac fly to bring home a run.

With runners on first and second, senior Hunter Adrian stepped to the plate and crushed a 0-2 pitch high over the fence in right center for a three-run home run and his third big fly of the season.

 

Sacramento State tacked on two more runs in the eighth and they needed each one. New Mexico State scored twice against the Hornets’ closer, senior R.J. Davis, in the ninth but the big right-hander forced a ground out to short to end the game.

 

Adrian went 4-for-5 and tied his career-best with four RBIs. Chung extended his team-best hitting streak to 11 games with a single in the first inning.

 

Freshman reliever Daniel Kopas (2-0) earned the win after throwing 2.2 hitless innings after the Hornets pulled starter Hunter Greenwood before the fifth. Davis tallied his sixth save of the season.

 

Center fielder Kyle Phillips led the Aggies with three RBIs on two hits. Right fielder Bryan Karraker had a team-high three runs.

 

Sacramento State and No. 25 New Mexico State split the weekend four-game series, however, Monday’s game was not considered a conference game as WAC teams play just three counting games against each other this year.

 

The Hornets will play their sixth consecutive game against an opponent with the Aggies nickname when they play at UC Davis tomorrow at 2:30 p.m. Sacramento State won the first meeting with its rival to the West, 11-4, last Wednesday. Freshman RHP Ty Nichols, who earned his first career win after allowing just one run on two hits in five innings against UC Davis last week, will be on the mound again for the Hornets.

 

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New Mexico State.... 121 100 002 - 7 9 4      (27-11)

Sacramento State.... 000 150 02X - 8 10 0      (19-18)

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Pitchers: New Mexico State - Casey Collins; Randy Montoya(5); Trey Ross(6); Evan Mott(7);

Robert Kraft(7); Scott Coffman(8) and Patrick McMeel; Zac Fisher. Sacramento State -

Greenwood, Hunter; Kopas, Daniel(5); Hoelzen, Tyler(7); Davis, R.J.(9) and Hottman, Brent;

Chung, Derrick.

Win-Kopas, Daniel(2-0) Save-Davis, R.J.(6) Loss-Casey Collins(3-3) T-3:00 A-109

HR SAC - Adrian, Hunter (3).

Weather: 74 degrees

Ross, T. faced 2 batters in the 7th.

Game: 37NMSU12