Aggies Get Sweep of Mastodons

Saturday, March 19

Las Cruces, N.M.

5:05 PM

Purdue Fort Wayne

New Mexico State

Will Faulkner's hit streak reached eight games with a pair of hits vs. NMSU

3/20/2011 12:28:32 AM | Baseball

Game 1 | Game 2

Las Crucas, NM – New Mexico State captured the middle two games of a four-game series at Presley Askew Field on Saturday evening. The Aggies easily won Game 1, 14-5, but had to hold off the Mastodons in Game 2, 11-8.

NMSU (14-5) used a seven-run 4^th inning in the opener to blow the contest wide open. Catcher Zac Fisher and designated hitter Ryan Clark each drove in a pair of runs in the decisive inning.

Aggie shortstop Ryan Aguayo homered and drove in three in the win.

Starter Ryan Beck went 5.0 innings for the win (3-2). He struck out two Mastodons and walked one.

IPFW starter Lucas Kesterson took the loss (0-3). He gave up six runs on seven hits. He walked and struck out four.

Left fielder Cody Galbraith and right fielder Nate Thomas each had a pair of hits and an RBI for the 'Dons.

In the nightcap, the Mastodons staked the Aggies to a 6-0 after four, before mounting a charge in the 5^th inning.

Shortstop Will Faulkner got IPFW on the board with a two-run single to left. The Mastodons plated another on an RBI groundout by center fielder Kurt Dudley and finished off the frame on an RBI groundout by first baseman A.J. Christensen, making it 6-4 NMSU.

The Aggies got one back in the bottom of the 5^th and added three more in the 7^th inning as third baseman Zac Voight chased home a pair with a single to left, while Aguayo walked with the bases loaded, making it 10-4.

But the 'Dons would not go quietly. In the top of the eighth, third baseman Cory Miller brought in two with a single to right. Catcher Caleb Fenimore sent a shot to short that Aquayo couldn't handle scoring another and Miller hustled home, tagging on a foul pop to the catcher. The four-spot made it 10-8.

But Aggie right fielder Bryan Karraker gave State an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth. He led off the inning with a double, advanced to third on a wild pitch and, with two-out, scored on another wild pitch.

IPFW was able to get the tying run to the plate in the ninth, but Scott Coffman was able to wiggle off the hook by getting a game-ending groundout.

Aggie starter Mack Tyler (3-1) went 7.0 innings for the win (x-x). He struck out 10 while walking three. He gave up four runs on four hits.

Parker Moorman (0-2) took the loss for the 'Dons (x-x). He issued seven runs on seven hits in 5.2 innings of work.

With the sweep, IPFW falls to 2-9 on the season. The Aggies and Mastodons finish their series on Sunday afternoon. First pitch is 3:00 p.m.

~Dons~