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NM State offense supports strong pitching performance to begin 2025 season with a home win.
Source: NMSU Athletics
By Michael Navarrette
Photo: Courtesy
LAS CRUCES, N.M. – A return to the diamond and a return to the win column. NM State (1-0) opened its season on Friday night at Presley Askew Field where they welcomed St. Thomas (0-1) and claimed a commanding 7-2 victory over the Tommies.
In his debut outing, Friday starter Jack Turner allowed just two runs across five innings of work to earn the first win of his much-anticipated junior campaign. Later, Saul Soto would dazzle in his first outing of the 2025 season as he threw four innings in relief and tallied six strikeouts while giving up no runs.
Offensively, the Aggies turned in 13 hits, including a two-run home run off of the bat of second baseman Sheehan O’Connor. Additionally, Aggie newcomers, Brandon Forrester, Tariq Freenyand Joey Craig posted multi-hit performances in their first outings with the program.
After a scoreless first, St. Thomas would break the seal with a run in the top of the first as Matthew Maulik came around to score after a one-out double immediately set him up in scoring position. The Crimson & White would respond in the bottom half of the second as the first six Aggie batters reached safely with three coming all the way around to score.
The scoring opened up for the Aggies with a single that got through left side of the infield and brought home Camden Kaufmanfrom third. With runners on first and second and just one out away, the St. Thomas pitching allowed the Aggies to increase their lead as a hit-by-pitch loaded the bases before both Jonatan Clough and Mitch Namie earned RBI walks to put NM State in front 3-1 in the second inning.
Evan Esch’s final pitch of the evening.left-hander put into play off of NamieSt. Thomas would tack on another run in the fourth before the Aggies would respond with a run of their own when Joey Craig came in to score from third on a ball that Mitch
Aggie ace Jack Turner then pitched a clean fifth inning before Head Coach Jake Angier turned to the arm of Saul Soto out of the bullpen. In his first appearance of the season, the native of Rio Rico, Ariz., would strike out two in the sixth before fanning two more in the seventh on his way to earning his first save of the season.
The Aggie bats then extended the advantage as Steve Solorzano tallied a lead-off single before a two-out, two-run home run for Sheehan O’Connor put the Aggies ahead 6-2 in the seventh inning. NM State would ultimately add one more run in the eighth when Tariq Freeny logged the lone extra-base hit of the game and drove in Brandon Forrester who reached via his third base knock of the night.
NUMBERS OF NOTE
- After dropping three straight season openers, the Aggies are now 2-0 in season openers during the Jake Angier era.
- Seven different Aggies logged a hit on Friday night, including four of which recorded multiple hits. Among these seven were Brandon Forrester and Tariq Freeny who each tallied their first hits at the Division I level.
- After pacing the Aggies in saves in 2024 with three, Saul Soto logged his first save of the season and fourth of his career. Soto’s six strikeouts also marks a new career high for the junior from Arizona.
- Sheehan O’Connor’s 417-foot homer on Friday night already moves the senior halfway to his season total from a year ago after notching two in 35 games played in 2024.
- The Aggies are now 1-0 all-time against St. Thomas.
UP NEXT
The Aggies will return to Presley Askew Field on Saturday evening for the second game of a four-game series with the Tommies. First pitch for Saturday’s contest is scheduled for 4 p.m. Fans interested in purchasing tickets can do so online here or by calling the ticket office at 575-646-1420.
For complete coverage of NM State Baseball, visit NMStateSports.com – the official home of Aggie athletics – and follow us on Twitter (@NMStateBaseball), Instagram (@NMStateBaseball) and like us on Facebook (NMState Baseball).
