-and-
NM State fends off later surge from Spartans to pick up 11th win
Source: NMSU Athletics
By Michael Navarrette
Photo By Russell James for NMSU: Courtesy
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Mexico State | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 11 | 0 |
| UNC GREENSBORO | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 8 | 3 |
GREENSBORO, N.C. – The NM State baseball team rode strong pitching performances and clutch hitting to a 6-4 win over UNC Greensboro on Wednesday afternoon at UNCG Baseball Stadium. The Aggies improved to 11-10 on the season, while the Spartans fell to 10-10.
NM State took control in the middle innings, scoring two runs in the fourth and adding three more in the fifth to build a commanding 6-1 lead. Key contributions came from Aidan Lombardi, who tallied three hits and an RBI, and Bryce Campbell, who delivered a pivotal RBI single in the fifth.
The Aggies’ scoring started in the second inning when Lombardi doubled and later crossed the plate on a throwing error. In the fourth, Sheehan O’Connor and Tommy Meluskey each drove in a run to extend the lead. The Aggies then poured it on in the fifth with RBI hits from Campbell, O’Connor and Lombardi to widen the margin.
On the mound, Ferny Barreda started for NM State, allowing one run over two innings before turning the game over to Connor Wylde. Wylde was dominant in relief, striking out seven batters across five innings while allowing just one run. Dylan Weekly and Steve Solorzano, who made his first pitching appearance of the season, combined to close out the final two innings, fending off a late push by the Spartans.
UNC Greensboro attempted a comeback with three late runs, including solo home runs from JJ Parsons and Jacob Dilley. The Spartans plated two more in the eighth inning, but Solorzano entered in the ninth to earn the save, recording two strikeouts to secure the win for the Aggies
Aidan Lombardi went 3-for-3 with one RBI and one run scored while Bryce Campbell finished 2-for-4 with one RBI. Connor Wyldedelivered a stellar performance, pitching five innings with seven strikeouts while allowing only one run to earn the win.
NUMBERS OF NOTE
- NM State pitchers to tally 11 total strikeouts which marks the most in a single game this season. This was bolstered by a performance from Connor Wylde which included a career-best seven strikeouts. Wylde’s seven strikeouts also equal the most strikeouts by one Aggie pitcher in a single game this season – matching Ian Hoslett’s outing against St Thomas on Feb. 16.
- In the starting lineup for just the second time this season, Aidan Lombardi logged the first multi-hit game of his Aggie career – notching three hits.
- Steve Solorzano posted his seventh multi-hit game of the season while Bryce Campbell has now recorded three multi-hit games in just four appearances. Tariq Freeny also finished with a pair of hits to turn in his fifth multi-hit game of the year.
- Mitch Namie extended his hit streak to a team-high five games and has now recorded a hit in all but one game this season.
- Steve Solorzano made his first appearance of the season as a pitcher and with one scoreless inning, he tallied the first save of his collegiate career.
- NM State moves to 1-0 all-time against UNC Greensboro and improves to 2-5 on the road this year.
UP NEXT
Following the Aggies’ midweek win over UNC Greensboro, the Aggies now travel to Lynchburg, Va., for their first CUSA series of the season. There, they will take on Liberty beginning with a Friday bout that is scheduled to begin on Friday at 2 p.m. MDT.
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 (NM State Baseball).
