Welcome to our new web site!

To give our readers a chance to experience all that our new website has to offer, we have made all content freely avaiable, through October 1, 2018.

During this time, print and digital subscribers will not need to log in to view our stories or e-editions.

Late rally comes up short in Murfreesboro

Aggies plate four in ninth to pull within one run

Posted

The NM State baseball team put together a late rally on Saturday afternoon at Reese Smith Jr. Field, but Middle Tennessee kept the Aggies at bay, stranding two runners in scoring position to defeat NMSU 8-7.

The Aggies pushed across their first run in the third inning after Camden Kaufman reached base and later crossed the plate following defensive miscues, tying the game at 1-1 after MTSU plated a run in the second. The Aggies’ momentum carried into the fourth, when Aidan Lombardi launched a two‑run home run down the left‑field line to push NM State in front.

Middle Tennessee responded with steady pressure at the plate, answering in the middle innings with timely hits and aggressive baserunning to keep the game tight. NMSU continued to generate chances, leaning on patience and speed, as the Aggies drew walks and advanced runners into scoring position repeatedly.

Later, the Blue Raiders tallied six runs across the sixth, seventh and eighth innings to build up an 8-3 advantage. With their final at-bat, the Aggies applied pressure to make things interesting late in the contest.

Lombardi opened the inning with a walk before Dane Woodcook singled and Kaufman loaded the bases with a walk of his own. Steve Solorzano and Aidan Taclas then tallied back-to-back singles to score three runs, cutting the deficit to two with no outs away. An Easton Rulli RBI single pulled the Aggies within one, but they were unable to push any additional runs across.

Rulli, Woodcook, and Jonatan Clough each tallied two hits in the game. Solorzano and Rulli both pushed their hit streaks to nine games, marking the longest streaks of the season for the Aggies, while Solorzano tallied his ninth multi-RBI game of the year, pacing all Aggies.

NMSU used five pitchers on the night, with Jaden Davis, Carson Timmons, Fabian Ibarra, and Bradyn Barnes all seeing action out of the bullpen as the Aggies worked to control the damage and keep the game within reach.

Following Saturday, the Aggies currently have five players who have reached base in at least 10 consecutive games as Rulli (18), Solorzano (13), Boston Vest (12), Solorzano and Rulli have all been able to get aboard consistently as of late.

NMSU falls to 2-14 when scoring fewer than eight runs this season.


X