While the Aggies did not qualify for this year’s Conference USA Tournament, NM State did manage to hand the eventual conference champions one of their late-season league losses during a three-game April series in Jacksonville, Alabama.
Source: Conference USA, NMSU Athletics
Photos: Courtesy
Jax State defeated Liberty in the Conference USA title game, securing the league’s automatic bid into the 64-team NCAA Tournament field. The full tournament bracket and regional assignments are scheduled to be announced Memorial Day during the NCAA selection show.
While the Aggies did not qualify for this year’s Conference USA Tournament, NM State did manage to hand the eventual conference champions one of their late-season league losses during a three-game April series in Jacksonville, Alabama.
The Aggies opened the series with a 6-3 win powered by a dramatic three-run home run from Aidan Taclas in the ninth inning. NM State also received home runs from Boston Vest and Chris Daniels in the victory, marking one of only a handful of losses Jax State suffered during conference play.
The following day, the Gamecocks responded with a 4-0 victory behind a strong pitching performance from Beau Bryans, before closing out the series Sunday with a 10-0 shutout win. Jax State pitcher Steven Cash — who later helped lead the Gamecocks to the conference tournament title — threw a complete-game shutout in the series finale against the Aggies.
Jax State now awaits its NCAA Tournament destination as part of the 64-team national field.
Earlier Sunday, the NCAA announced the 16 host sites for the opening round of the tournament, including regional hosts such as Texas Longhorns baseball, UCLA Bruins baseball, Florida State Seminoles baseball, and Georgia Bulldogs baseball.
Notably, Kansas Jayhawks baseball will host an NCAA Regional for the first time in program history, while West Virginia Mountaineers baseball is hosting for the first time since 2019 and Nebraska Cornhuskers baseball for the first time since 2008.
The NCAA Regionals are scheduled to begin Friday, May 29, and continue through June 1, if necessary.
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