By Marshall Mecham
LAS CRUCES, N.M. — The New Mexico State baseball team swept Conference USA foe Delaware (10-22, 1-11 CUSA) in dominant fashion at Presley Askew Field at Johnson Stadium this past weekend by the scores 11-6, 15-9 and 7-2. This was a great response following a four-game losing streak to improve to 14-16 on the season (6-6 CUSA).
GAME ONE
The Aggies got off to a slow start in the series opener Thursday, April 2, falling behind 3-0 in the top of the first inning. Despite this, they were able to respond quickly in the bottom of the frame. After Steve Solorzano and Aidan Taclas reached, Jonatan Clough hit a double down the left-field line to bring in two runs and cut the deficit to one.
After both teams went scoreless in the second inning, NMSU started to build separation in the third. The defense did its job, holding the Blue Hens to zero points for a second straight frame. Solorzano came up big once again in the bottom half, hitting a two-run home run down the right-field line to put the Aggies in front 4-3.
The fourth inning was even more impressive for NMSU. After preventing Delaware from scoring yet again, the Aggies erupted for five runs to build the lead up to six. RBI hits from Dane Woodcook, Solorzano and Easton Rulli are what sparked this.
The fifth and sixth innings saw neither team score runs. The Blue Hens got back in the scoring column with three runs in the top of the seventh inning to cut the deficit to just three. However, the Aggies responded once again. In the eighth inning, Clough hit a two-run double to extend the advantage to 11-6, which ended up being the final score. Clough finished the evening with an impressive five RBIs and pitcher JT Price earned the win.
GAME TWO
Friday night’s matchup started the exact same way as the night prior, with the Aggies finding themselves in a 3-0 hole early. They were able to respond quickly again in the bottom of the second frame. After Rulli got on base, Boston Vest hit an RBI double and Chris Daniels hit a run-scoring single, the deficit was cut to one.
It was not until the fifth inning when the Aggies were able to find some momentum. Clough continued his weekend surge with an RBI triple to give NMSU its first lead of the ball game 5-4. Rulli then hit the ball in play, which led to a Clough score. Daniels followed this up with a solo home run to build the advantage to three.
Delaware scored two runs in the sixth inning to stay in the game, but the Aggies responded with five runs in the bottom half to extend the lead to 12-6.
NMSU added three more runs in the eighth inning to take a 15-6 advantage heading into the final frame. The Blue Hens scored three runs of their own in the ninth inning but it was not enough, as NMSU secured the 15-9 victory and clinched the series in the process. Pitcher Hazen Wright took home the win.
GAME THREE
The final game of the series saw Delaware get off to another fast start, taking a 2-0 lead heading into the bottom of the third inning. The Blue Hens did not score from there and it was all Aggies from that moment. They got on the board thanks to a Brandon Clizbe triple, who scored off a Camden Kaufman sacrifice fly.
The Aggies tied the game in the fourth and took the lead in the fifth after Taclas scored off a balk. It was in the seventh inning when NMSU ran away with the game, scoring four runs. Kaufman started things off with a double and then Solorzano hit his second two-run home run of the series to extend the advantage to three. Vest then tallied his third sacrifice fly of the weekend and Rulli came home on a wild pitch, pushing the lead to 7-2. With no runs being scored the last two innings, this ended up being the final score and pitcher Jack Turner earned the win.
Turner said he was glad to be back in the lineup and help the Aggies’ secure the weekend series sweep.
“It feels good,” Turner said. “I’m ready to take on any role at any point.”
Turner also said the team bouncing back from a rough stretch recently says a lot about them.
“We got a resilient group,” Turner said. “Last week was tough, but we got it done this week. We stayed the course and we did the job.”
NMSU will be back in action against Big 12 opponent Arizona (10-21, 3-9 Big 12) at 7 p.m. MT Wednesday, April 8, at Hi Corbett Field in Tucson, Arizona.
-
-
-
-
-
