LAS CRUCES, N.M. - The Sacramento State baseball team dropped a 15-5 decision to the No. 23 ranked New Mexico State Aggies in the series finale of a four game set on Sunday, April 5 at Presley Askew Field.
With the loss, the Hornets fall to 17-12, 1-3 in Western Athletic Conference play, while the Aggies improve to 28-4, 3-1 in the WAC.
The Hornets got off to a strong start, scoring a pair of runs in the top of the first to take an early lead. Senior Hunter Martinez singled to lead off the inning, and with one out, junior Tim Wheeler brought him home on an RBI triple, his second of the season. Senior Blake Crosby then followed with a RBI double to left, bringing home Wheeler to make the score 2-0 in favor of the Hornets.
After the Aggies got a run back in the bottom of the first, the Hornets extended the lead to 3-1 in the top of the second, as freshman Aaron Crouch led off the inning with a double, and came around to score on a single by sophomore Derrick Chung.
Steven Anderson led off the bottom of the second with a solo home run for the Aggies, cutting the Hornet lead to 3-2. The score would remain that way until the bottom of the fifth, when New Mexico State took their first lead, scoring two runs. Ben Harty led the inning off with a solo home run, and later in the inning with the bases loaded, Richard Stout drew an RBI walk to give the Aggies a 4-3 advantage.
The lead would grow to 7-3 after New Mexico State would have three runs cross the board in the bottom of the sixth, before the Hornets would answer. In the top of the seventh, after two quick outs, Crosby scratched out a single to left to start a two-out rally that saw junior Josh Powers produce a single of his own, and senior Jeff Roth reach base after getting hit by a pitch, loading the bases. Freshman Justin Lamb stepped to the plate and knocked a two-run single to left field, scoring Crosby and Powers to pull the Hornets to within two runs at 7-5.
But after being retired in order in the top of the eighth, the Hornets would have no additional chances, as New Mexico State scored eight runs on seven hits in the bottom of the eighth, ending the game at 15-5 due to the 10-run mercy rule.
Junior Tommy Elrod (3-1) picked up his first loss of the season for the Hornets, allowing four runs on eight hits in 4.2 innings pitched. Jared Jordan (4-0) withstood trouble early and late to pick up the win, allowing five runs on nine hits in 6.2 innings of work.
Crosby and Powers notched two hits apiece to pace the Hornets, while Lamb's two RBI on the day led the club. Jeffrey Farnham and Wade Reynoso led the Aggies with three hits on the day, while Nate Shaver added three RBI.
The Hornets are scheduled to host the California Golden Bears on Tuesday, March 7 at Hornet Field.
LAS CRUCES, N.M. - The Sacramento State baseball team dropped a 15-5 decision to the No. 23 ranked New Mexico State Aggies in the series finale of a four game set on Sunday, April 5 at Presley Askew Field.
