By Marshall Mecham
LAS CRUCES, N.M. — The New Mexico State baseball team (17-22, 7-11 Conference USA) defeated No. 25 Arizona State (28-14, 11-7 Big 12) in stunning fashion by a score of 10-9 in 11 innings at Phoenix Municipal Stadium in Phoenix on Wednesday, April 22.
This is the second ranked win the Aggies have accumulated this season, as they beat then No. 25 University of Texas at San Antonio 5-4 on March 8 at Presley Askew Field at Johnson Stadium.
NMSU started the game strong, scoring two runs right from the get-go to take an early 2-0 lead in the first inning. A Jonatan Clough RBI triple and Chris Daniels RBI groundout are what sparked this.
The Sun Devils scored one run in the bottom of the frame but the Aggies responded quickly in the second with another two runs to take a 4-1 lead, highlighted by a solo home run from Tommy Meluskey. ASU followed this up with two runs of their own in the bottom of the inning to cut the deficit to one.
Meluskey stepped up again following the Sun Devil mini-run, hitting another home run to give NMSU a 5-3 advantage in the top of the third. However, the Aggies went cold for three consecutive innings by not scoring a single run. ASU took advantage of this by scoring four runs to take a 7-5 lead heading into the seventh inning.
Brandon Clizbe broke the scoring drought for NMSU, hitting an RBI single to get within one run. After stopping the Sun Devils from scoring in the bottom of the frame, the Aggies’ momentum continued. Clough doubled home a run and later scored on a wild pitch to give NMSU an 8-7 advantage going into the ninth.
Moments later, Sun Devil outfielder Dean Toigo hit a solo home run to tie the game and send the contest into extra innings.
After both teams went scoreless in the 10th, the Aggies came through in the 11th. Clough was hit by a pitch, Clizbe singled and stole second, and Camden Kaufman hit a two-run single to give NMSU a 10-8 lead.
ASU managed to score a run in the bottom of the inning but it was not enough, as Aggie pitcher Carson Timmons sealed the deal soon after.
NMSU pitcher Dylan Weekly earned the win and now has a 2-1 win-loss record. Taylor Penn took home the loss for the first time this season and now has a 4-1 win-loss record.
The Aggies will be back in action against Jacksonville State (34-8, 16-2 CUSA) at 5 p.m. MT Friday, April 24, at Rudy Abbott Field at Jim Case Stadium in Jacksonville, Alabama. This is the first of a three-game series. The Gamecocks currently sit at the top of the CUSA standings.
-
-
-
-
-
