Aggie baseball falls in pitcher's duel with Grand Canyon

The Basics 

Game Twenty-Three 

Score: NM State 0, RV Grand Canyon 2 

Records: NM State  (10-13, 2-8 WAC); Grand Canyon (17-10, 9-1 WAC) 

Location: Phoenix, Ariz. (GCU Ballpark) 

PHOENIX, Ariz. –  The woes in WAC play continued for NM State baseball on Friday night against Grand Canyon as the Aggies fell 2-0. Earlier in the week, Grand Canyon found itself receiving votes in the NCBWA poll as a top team nationally.  

Brandon Dieter led off the game for NM State with a single and the Aggies left the bases loaded in the first inning 

The Lopes got out to an early 1-0 lead in the first inning before Rorik Maltrud settled in and found his rhythm. The right-hander fanned four over six innings.  

Grand Canyon added a run in the fourth inning to push their lead to 2-0, where it would stay for the remainder of the ballgame.  

GCU pitchers would not allow a hit or a baserunner to the Aggies for the final three innings of the ballgame.  

Quick Hits 

• The loss marked the first time NM State had been shut out in 2022. 
• Brandon Dieter, Tommy Tabak, Nolan Funke, and Cal Vilalreal recorded the four hits for NM State on Friday night. 
• As a team, the Aggies stuck out 15 times while only fanning four Lopes batters.
• Brendon Rodriguez and Noah Estrella combined to work a pair of scoreless innings in the contest. The duo also did not allow a hit. 
• Logan Gallina and Edwin Martinez-Pagani both drew walks in the ballgame. 
• Taking the loss, Rorik Maltrud fell to 1-2 on the season. 

On-Deck 

NM State will be back in action on Saturday against the Lopes. All of the action will be streamed on ESPN+ beginning at 6 p.m. from GCU Ballpark in Phoenix.  

For complete coverage of NM State baseball throughout the Aggies 2022 campaign visit NMStateSports.com - the official home of Aggie athletics - and follow the Aggies on Facebook (NM State Baseball), Twitter (@NMStateBaseball) and Instagram (@NMStateBaseball).