Aggies Key in on Pivotal Series at Kennesaw State

LAS CRUCES, N.M. – After traveling to Tucson on Tuesday night to take on No. 24 Arizona, the Aggies will look to continue their four-game winning streak against Conference USA opponents as they travel to the Peach State for a series at Kennesaw State. The Aggies and Owls will first square off on Friday with the game set to start at 4 p.m. MT. The second game of the series is slated to begin on Saturday at 2 p.m. before the weekend concludes on Sunday at 11 a.m.
 
Friday’s series opener will mark the first time ever that the two sides will meet on the diamond as this season represents the first time the two share a conference affiliation. The weekend series will also serve as one of the marquee matchups in the conference as the Aggies enter the weekend in fifth place and just two games behind the second-place Owls.
 
SERIES INFO
NM State (22-23, 10-8 CUSA) at Kennesaw State Owls (22-22, 12-6 CUSA)
S. Walter Kelly Sr. Memorial Field
Marrieta, Ga.
 
Friday, May 2 – 4 p.m.
Stats: StatBroadcast
 
Saturday, May 3 – 2 p.m.
Stats: StatBroadcast
 
Sunday, May 4 – 11 a.m.
Stats: StatBroadcast
 
PROJECTED PITCHING MATCHUPS
Friday
NM State: RHP Saul Soto
Kennesaw State: RHP Harry Cain
 
Saturday
NM State: LHP Connor Wylde
Kennesaw State: RHP Ty Bauer
 
Sunday
NM State: RHP Ian Hoslett
Kennesaw State: TBA
 
LAST TIME OUT       
NM State most recently traveled to Tucson, Ariz., where it collided with No. 24 Arizona. In its 10th midweek game of the year, NM State produced seven hits, however, it could only push across two runs to suffer a 6-2 defeat.
 
In the contest, Steve Solorzano pushed his hitting streak to seven games to match Dane Woodcook for the longest active streak on the team. Meanwhile on the mound, Colton Sneddonlogged his first career start in an Aggie uniform and tossed 2.0 innings while striking out a pair of batters.
 
Prior to the loss to the Wildcats, NM State completed its second sweep of the season as it outscored Middle Tennessee by a score of 32-9 across a three-game stretch at home.
 
REVOLVING DOOR  
This season, the Aggies have dealt with a multitude of injuries and that has been reflected by their lack of continuity in the starting lineup. With Camden Kaufman collecting a start at center field on Tuesday at Arizona, he became the sixth different Aggie to make a start at center field.
 
WYLDE RIDE 
On Saturday, NM State starter Connor Wylde tossed a seven-inning, complete-game shutout. With Dane Woodcook behind the plate, the 6-7 lefty allowed just five hits while striking out four Blue Raiders to help the Aggies collect a 10-0 victory in seven innings.
 
With the performance, Wylde became the first Aggie pitcher since Pablo Cortes on March 5, 2022, to record a complete-game shutout. For Cortes, his seven-inning shutout came against Prairie View A&M.
 
The win also marked the Aggies’ first shutout victory since March 13, 2022, when they knocked off Seattle U 9-0.
 
HORVAT COMIN’ IN HOT   
Senior second baseman Gianni Horvat had a breakout weekend in the series sweep of MTSU – finishing with three multi-hit games, a pair of home runs and a team-high five RBIs to help fuel an Aggie offense that generated 32 runs over the weekend.
 
Entering Friday night’s game, Horvat had just one career home run and had recorded seven hits and four RBIs on the season.
 
CREAM OF THE CONFERENCE CROP        
This season, Conference USA has been among the best of the best as a whole. According to WarrenNolan.com, the Aggies’ league is ranked the fifth-best conference in the nation, behind only the nation’s four power conferences (SEC, ACC, Big 12, Big Ten).
 
BRING OUT THE BROOMS 
On Sunday, NM State secured its second series sweep of the season and first since earning three straight wins over a visiting Western Illinois team in just the second weekend series of the season. The trio of wins over the Blue Raiders also marked the Aggies’ second-ever sweep in CUSA play after sweeping Jax State during its inaugural season in 2024.
 
With the sweep of the Blue Raiders, the Aggies capped off a seven-day stretch in which they finished ranked first in the conference in batting average (.356), ERA (4.09) and on base percentage while ranking second in scoring (9.5 runs per game.)
 
LAS CRUCES LAUNCH PAD 
As it seems like it always seems to be, Presley Askew Field has once again been a launching pad this season, with a total of 70 home runs being hit between the Aggies and their opponents across the first 25 games. This includes 35 of the Aggies’ 43 home runs on the year.
 
Thus far, NM State has recorded at least one home run in 20 of their 25 home games, including tallying multiple home runs in 10 games.
 
With home runs from Bryce Campbell, Boston Vest and Gianni Horvat, Sunday also marked the fifth time this year that three Aggies have hit a home run in the same game.
 
NEVER UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER OF SOUP          
Since junior Bryce Campbell has entered the Aggie lineup, the first baseman has been a steady staple for Head Coach Jake Angier. Campbell made his first start in the Crimson and White on March 14 against Portland and has since started all 28 games, including logging 19 starts at first base.
 
Since entering the lineup, Campbell has reached base in all but one game and has recorded 12 multi-hit games. During this stretch, the Modesto Junior College transfer ranks first on the team in RBIs (32), home runs (4) and walks (18) while also ranking tied for second on the team in total hits (35).
 
SOTO THE STARTER           
Last Friday night, Saul Soto made his second career start and second start in just six days after serving as the starter against Jax State on Saturday, April 19. Previously, Soto has served as the Aggies’ go-to closer and has recorded five saves across the last two seasons.
 
In his first career start, Soto tossed 4.0 innings, allowed five hits, three runs (two earned), issued two walks and recorded five strikeouts. Soto followed this performance with a dominant outing against the Blue Raiders on Friday, April 27. Versus MTSU, Soto tossed 7.0 innings and allowed just four hits and one run while tallying five strikeouts.
 
OFFENSIVE OUTBURST      
On Sunday, the Aggies tallied 16 runs to account for their highest run total in a single game this season. This also marks the Aggies’ highest run total since NM State also recorded 16 runs in a 13-inning home victory over LA Tech on May 4, 2024. The Aggies also logged 18 total hits on Sunday which marks their most hits this season. NM State also produced a season-high 16 RBIs against the Blue Raiders on Sunday.
 
THIRD TIMES THE CHARM            
This year, the Aggies have been exceptional when playing a team a third time during a weekend series. Following a win over MTSU on Sunday, NM State is now 9-2 in the third game of a weekend series, including being 6-1 in Presley Askew Field.
 
SALVAGING THE SERIES    
NM State has now completed 10 weekend series and has avoided the sweep in all 10. This includes winning the final game of the series in series against Texas A&M, Dallas Baptist and Jax State to avoid the sweep.
 
WALK-OFF WINNER            
On Saturday, April 19, a two-out, two-RBI base hit from Bryce Campbell allowed the Aggies to claim a 7-6 walk-off win. This marked the Aggies’ third walk-off win of the season as the Aggies also earned wins on the final hit of the game against both Oakland (Feb. 28) and Portland (March 16).
 
TURN TWO               
With 44 games down, the Aggie infield has been the best team in the nation at turning double plays. With another three double plays against MTSU last weekend, NM State now has 48 double plays on the season, which ranks tied for first in the country.
 
This year, the Aggies have tallied multiple double plays in 16 games, including recording three double plays in five different contests.
 
WHEN YOU’RE WRIGHT, YOU’RE RIGHT 
This season, true freshman Hazen Wright has proven to be one of the Aggies’ top relievers and once again looked mature beyond his age on Friday night. The right-hander from Carlsbad, N.M., has now appeared in 13 games this season and has allowed an earned run in just two games, including surrendering only one earned run across his last 12.2 innings, which include appearances against No. 17 Dallas Baptist and No. 25 Arizona. In total, Wright has pitched 17.2 innings, allowed five earned runs and tallied 23 strikeouts.
 
SOMETHING ABOUT SUNDAYS     
Despite a Sunday loss at FIU on April 13, NM State has been dominant in Sunday games and currently boasts an 8-2 record on Sundays, including stacking wins over two ranked programs in No. 14 Texas A&M and No. 17 Dallas Baptist.
 
LIMITING THE DAMAGE     
Two weeks ago, NM State once again fell victim to a big inning from its opponent as Jax State posted five runs in the first inning on its way to defeating the Aggies 17-12. This season, big innings from their opponents have been one of the primary contributing factors to the Aggies’ losses. Thus far, NM State is 19-8 when it doesn’t allow its opponent to score four or more runs in a single inning. On the contrary, the Aggies are just 3-15 when their opponent produces four or more runs in a single frame.
 
SAY HIS NAMIE        
Entering the 2024 campaign, returner Mitch Namie was slated to be one of the Aggies’ key contributors once again after appearing in 50 of the Aggies’ 54 games and making 49 starts during his sophomore season. The Mesa, Ariz., serves as the leading returner in batting average (.333), at-bats (183), runs (50), hits (61), doubles (13), triples (2), home runs (5), RBIs (35) and walks (31).
 
Through the Aggies’ first 45 games, Namie’s offensive power has been on full display as he has recorded a hit in all but six games this season, including posting a hit in each of the Aggies’ first 15 games. Additionally, Namie is the only Aggie to appear in the starting lineup in every game this season.
 
Currently, the outfielder is tied for the team lead in hits (60) and paces the Aggies in RBIs (35). Also, his 15 doubles rank first on the team and fourth among CUSA hitters. His 60 hits also rank fourth in the conference this season.
 
BEATING THE BEST 
With the Aggies’ win over No. 17 DBU on March 30, NM State now has two wins over ranked opponents this season, which marks just the fifth time in program history that NM State has notched multiple ranked wins in a single season. Prior to this season, the Aggies had only accomplished this in 2012, 1999, 1997 and 1996.
 
On Tuesday at No. 24 Arizona, NM State will seek its third ranked win of the season – a feat it has not accomplished since 1997.
 
TRIPLE PLAY ALERT           
On March 23 against Liberty, the Aggies accomplished something they hadn’t done in over 10 years. A ground ball hit to Brandon Forrester ultimately turned into the program’s first triple play since April 29, 2014, when the Aggies recorded a triple play on the road against Arizona State. NM State is one of just four Division I teams to pull off a triple play this season, joined by UIC, Stetson and Texas Southern.
 
STELLAR STEVE       
Two-way player Steve Solorzano turned in one of the most impressive individual performances of the season in the Aggies’ win over Liberty on March 23. At the plate, the Las Cruces native finished with two hits and drove in the game-winning run in the 10th inning. In addition, the right-hander who started at first base moved over to the mound, where he ultimately earned the win after tossing three scoreless innings to close out the game.
 
Entering Tuesday, Solorzano paces the Aggies in batting average (.359), slugging percentage (.586) and on-base percentage (.492) while ranking among the conference’s best in batting average (5th) and on-base percentage (2nd).
 
CRAIG NAMED CUSA HITTER OF THE WEEK     
After a stellar weekend in which he played a pivotal role in the Aggies’ series win on the road against Liberty, outfielder Joey Craig was named Conference USA Hitter of the Week. Over the three-game series, Craig batted .600 (6-10) and was tied for the team lead in RBIs with five, including a four-RBI performance on Saturday. He finished the weekend with a home run, one double and three walks to help support a .692 on-base percentage.
 
BRING OUT THE BULLPEN 
On April 12, the Aggie relievers that came into the game to record a combined 13 total strikeouts in just 5.2 innings of work. This marked the fourth time this season that the Aggie bullpen has accounted for 10 or more strikeouts in a single game, as it also tallied exactly 10 strikeouts against Lamar on March 11 and UNC Greensboro on March 19 before recording 13 strikeouts against UNM on April 1.
 
In the loss to the Lobos on April 1, the Aggies finished the game with 17 total strikeouts to mark the most strikeouts in a single game since March 11, 2022, when NM State tallied a program-record 20 strikeouts against Seattle U.
 
TRENDING UP          
After finishing No. 297 in RPI in 2023, the Aggies jumped to No. 138 at the conclusion of the 2024 season to mark the largest RPI increase in the nation.
 
AGGIES > AGGIES     
On Sunday, March 9, NM State claimed a 4-1 victory over No. 14 Texas A&M to secure the program’s first win over an opponent ranked in the top 25 of the NCAA’s primary ranking system since 2012, when they knocked off No. 5 Arizona.
 
The win was also the Aggies’ first win over Texas A&M in nine tries and represented NM State’s second win over a team in the SEC at the time of the contest. Interestingly, the Aggies’ first-ever win over an SEC opponent also came on March 9, when they defeated Alabama 3-0 in 2018.
 
LOCAL PRODUCTS   
The 2025 NM State roster features four Aggies from the Land of Enchantment. This includes Kade Benavidez (Belen), Jaden Davis (Jemez Pueblo), Steve Solorzano (Las Cruces) and Hazen Wright (Carlsbad).
 
O’CONNOR NAMED CUSA PLAYER OF THE WEEK         
On Monday, Feb. 17, it was announced that standout second baseman Sheehan O’Connor earned Conference USA Hitter of the Week honors after an impressive trio of games to open the season.
 
Following a two-hit performance on Sunday, O’Connor ended the weekend with a .583 batting average, three home runs, eight RBIs and a pair of doubles to help guide the Aggies to a pair of wins and earn the season’s first hitter of the week honor, which is announced every Monday.
 
PRESEASON DOUBT            
On Jan. 30, Conference USA released is preseason poll and preseason award recipients and, notably, no Aggies were included on the preseason all-conference team while NM State landed in a tie for eighth place as a team on the 2025 CUSA Preseason Poll which is based on a vote of the league’s 10 head coaches.
 
YEAR TWO                
NM State is amid its second season under Head Coach Jake Angier and looks to continue to make strides after increasing its win total by 11 games and posting the highest number of wins since 2019.
 
In year one under Angier, the Aggies landed three on the all-conference awards list as Keith Jones II earned first team All-CUSA honors, Titus Dumitru earned second team honors and Steve Solorzano secured all-freshman team honors.
 
Angier was previously at the University of Oregon, where he operated as the pitching coach for the 2020-2023 seasons. Before Oregon, Angier was at Sacramento State from 2014-2019. Angier was named by Baseball America as one of the 50 names to watch in the 2023 coaching cycle. Currently, Angier is the second-shortest-tenured head coach in the league as only Liberty’s Bradley LeCroy, who is in his first season, has been in his current assignment for less time.
 
WELCOME ABOARD            
This offseason, NM State added Assistant Coach Camden Duzenack to its staff. Following an impressive playing career, which included six seasons in the farm system for the Arizona Diamondbacks, he will assist primarily with the infield for the Aggies.
 
In college, Duzenack spent four seasons with CUSA foe Dallas Baptist, where he recorded a career batting average of .291 and was named a Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American as a freshman in 2014. He was also named MVC Defensive Player of the Year as a senior and garnered All-MVC honors three years in a row.
 
EASTWARD EXPANSION    
This season, the Aggies will spend their fair share of time on the road as they are slated to play 27 games away from Presley Askew Field. Unlike American settlers, the Aggies will do most of their traveling to the east as this week’s contest against Arizona will represent one of the only two times that the Aggies will travel west of Las Cruces.
 
During its season, NM State will rack up frequent flyer miles as seven of its 11 road trips will include games that require over 700 miles of travel. This includes three extra lengthy trips as its road trip to UNC Greensboro and Liberty (1,789 miles to UNCG), its trip to FIU (2,030 miles) and its trip to Kennesaw State (1,461 miles) all exceed 1,000 miles.
 
BIG SPIKES TO FILL 
NM State entered the 2025 season with nearly two-thirds of its 2024 roster no longer in the picture. This year, NM State brings back just 12 players while 22 individuals have departed.
 
With a new-look roster comes opportunity as the Aggies will be looking to replace nearly all of its offensive and pitching production. With the departures, the Aggies lost over 70% of their runs (72.9%), hits (72.4%), home runs (86.1%), RBIs (78.2%), stolen bases (87.8%) and innings pitched (72.6%). NM State will also be without Keith Jones II, Romeo Ballesteros and Nick Gore who were the only three Aggies last season to start more than 50 games – starting 53, 53 and 52, respectively.
 
ONCE AN AGGIE…     
This season, Head Coach Jake Angier is supported by a pair of former Aggies on his staff as both Assistant Coach David Bellamy and Director of Pitching Analytics Aaron Treloar each spent time during their collegiate playing days at NM State.
 
Bellamy, a two-year letter winner at NM State, is amid his second season on Angier’s staff. As a player, he was a standout outfielder for both the 2017 and 2018 seasons. He batted .307 his senior year to help lead the Aggies to the Lubbock Regional before being named to the Google Cloud Academic All-District First-Team and Academic All-WAC First-Team. Bellamy now serves as the Aggies’ hitting coach and is tasked with calling the offensive plays.
 
Meanwhile, Treloar is in his first season on staff after wrapping up his playing career just last season. Treloar ultimately spent his final two years with the Aggies and appeared in 35 games while totaling 42 strikeouts, including 26 in 2024.
 
ON THE BASE PATHS          
This season, first-year assistant, Camden Duzenack serves as the Aggies’ first-base coach. Meanwhile, Dillon Leveille, who is in his second season on staff, is the Aggies’ third-base coach.
 
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