-and-
Five Aggies record multiple hits.
Source: NMSU Athletics
By Michael Navarrette
Photo By Destinie Ramos for NMSU: Courtesy
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jax State | 5 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 17 | 15 | 3 |
| NM State | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 12 | 15 | 4 |
LAS CRUCES, N.M. – Despite a late offensive push, NM State couldn’t overcome a hot start from Jacksonville State, falling 17–12 in a windy matchup Thursday night at Presley Askew Field.
Jax State jumped out early with a five-run first inning, capitalizing on an Aggie error and four hits to take immediate control. The Gamecocks extended their lead to 8–0 by the middle of the third, forcing NM State to dig out of a deep early hole.
However, the Aggie bats eventually came alive. In the bottom of the third, Brandon Forrester launched a two-run home run to right center, followed shortly by an RBI double from Aidan Lombardibefore a sacrifice fly from Gianni Horvat trimmed the deficit to 8–4.
Mitch Namie would add to the Aggies’ total in the bottom half of the fourth with a towering two-run home run, pulling the Aggies within 8–6, but Jax State added two more in the fifth to push the deficit back to four runs. NM State continued to battle at the plate, scoring four more in the eighth inning behind timely hits from Forrester, Bryce Campbell and Horvat along with a pair of costly Gamecock errors, cutting what had been a 9-run gap to just 6.
Trailing 17–11 in the bottom of the ninth, NM State refused to go quietly. Tariq Freeny doubled and scored on an RBI shot down the line by Namie, who reached base four times. But the Aggies’ rally came up just short, stranding two to end the game.
Forrester led the Aggies with a 3-for-5 day, including a home run, a double, two RBIs and three runs scored. Namie added a pair of hits, a home run and three RBIs. Freeny reached base four times, recorded three hits and scored three runs.
Defensively, NM State struggled with three errors, which led to seven unearned runs that proved costly.
NUMBERS OF NOTE
- NM State recorded a season-high 43 at-bats, two more than its previous high of 41 against Liberty on March 22. This was led by Boston Vest who tallied a career-high six at-bats. This also equals the most at-bats by a single Aggie in a game this season.
- For the fourth time this season, NM State totaled three home runs. Tonight’s long balls came from Forrester, Namie and Vest to bring their season totals to two, four and two, respectively.
- Brandon Forrester recorded his team-best 15th multi-hit game of the season and has now reached base safely in 33 of the 35 games he has played in.
- Mitch Namie pushed his hitting streak to 11 games and recorded his fourth home run of the season. He also matched his season high in RBIs with three, marking the fourth time he has done so this year.
- Gianni Horvat produced his second multi-RBI game of the season with two.
- True freshman Cole Rogers made his collegiate debut and recorded his first hit as an Aggie with a single up the middle in the bottom of the sixth inning.
- For the eighth time this season, NM State pitching combined to tally double digit strikeouts as the Aggies struck out 10 Gamecock batters.
- NM State has now recorded 10-plus runs in 10 games this season. It is now 5-5 when scoring 10-plus runs this year.
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)
