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O’Connor’s fifth home run of the season highlights high-scoring affair.
Source: NMSU Athletics
By Michael Navarrette
Photo: Courtesy
LAS CRUCES, N.M. – NM State continued its strong start to the season with a 10-8 comeback win over Western Illinois on Saturday evening at Presley Askew Field. The Aggies (4-2) erased multiple deficits, using a powerful offensive attack and clutch bullpen work to secure the victory over the Leathernecks (0-4).
For the second straight night, third baseman Brandon Forresterplayed a key role in guiding the Aggies to victory as he concluded the night 3-of-4 with a home run. Meanwhile, Sheehan O’Connor continued a blazing hot start to his senior campaign as he added a solo home run.
The Aggies would find themselves in an early hole as WIU tallied a pair of runs in the opening frame before NM State answered with a two-run inning of its own in the second. Eventually, the Aggies would face a 5-2 deficit in the fourth inning, however, NM State responded with one run in the fourth and three runs in both the fifth and sixth frames to take control.
In the fifth inning, the Aggies would load the bases before Chris Daniels earned a walk and Joey Craig was hit by a pitch on the ensuing two at-bats – pushing across two runs. In the following at-bat, Camden Kaufman would earn a sacrifice fly to bring home Tariq Freeny which cut the WIU lead to just one run.
Ian Hoslett would then work through a scoreless sixth inning to maintain the momentum for the home side. Hoslett would ultimately go on to collect his second win of the season after tossing 2.2 innings and allowing just two runs.
The Aggies would even the score just five pitches into the sixth inning as Jonatan Clough hit a triple down the left field line on the first pitch of the at-bat to bring home Mitch Namie who managed a single to lead off the inning. Later in the inning, Tariq Freeny’s sac fly would score Clough before O’Connors solo home run pushed the NM State lead to two runs (9-7) after six innings of action.
In the closing frames, Jake Carvajal submitted a strong relief outing before Alejandro Maltos-Garcia shut the door in the ninth to lock down his first save of the season.
Despite a late push from the Leathernecks, who plated a run in the ninth, NM State’s defense and pitching held firm to preserve the win.
NUMBERS OF NOTE
- Sheehan O’Connor now has five home runs through just six games this season and has logged five multi-hit games, including a two-hit effort on Saturday evening.
- Mitch Namie, Sheehan O’Connor and Steve Solorzano each extended their respective hit streaks to six games.
- The Aggies’ 10-run effort matches the highest number of total runs in a game this season. This is also the second time this season that NM State has recorded 10 RBIs.
- Jonatan Clough’s triple was the first of his career with the Aggies and is the team’s second of the season.
- With three hits on Saturday, leadoff hitter Brandon Forrester already has two three-hit games this season. He also tallied the first home run of his Aggie career in the win.
- True freshman Chris Daniels notched the first hit and RBI of his collegiate career as he also appeared in the starting lineup for the first time this season – earning the start at first base.
- Reliever Jake Carvajal finished the night with four strikeouts to mark a season high for the right-hander from Dallas.
- Alejandro Maltos-Garcia pulled through to earn the first save of his young Aggie career.
- Steve Solorzano managed a pair of hits on Saturday, including his second double of the season.
UP NEXT
NM State will return to close out the series with the Leathernecks on Sunday morning. First pitch for the finale is slated for 11 a.m.
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).
