@NCBearsBaseball Drops Series Finale at New Mexico State

Sunday, April 23

Las Cruces, N.M.

12 pm

University of Northern Colorado

15-22, 4-8

New Mexico State

26-15, 11-1

Northern Colorado

New Mexico State

4/23/2017 3:42:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

UNC fell 6-2 in the series finale at New Mexico State

By: Ryan Pfeifer, UNCBears.com

LAS CRUCES, N.M. – New Mexico State (26-15, 11-1 WAC) used a big first inning to take the series finale over Northern Colorado (15-22, 4-8 WAC) 6-2 Sunday afternoon.

How It Happened
New Mexico State wasted no time getting out to a lead on UNC, putting up a five-spot on the Bears in The opening frame. The first run of the game came across on a Dan Hetzel sacrifice fly to bring home Brent Sakurai. The big hit of the inning came from Aggies catcher, Mason Fishback. He hit a three-run home run over the left center fence to put New Mexico State up 5-0 after just one inning of play.

After the rough first, Northern Colorado starter, Aaron Hamilton found his groove, setting down 15 of the next 16 Aggies hitters he faced, allowing UNC to try and work its way be into the game. The lone batter he didn't retire came on a walk.

The Bears chipped away at the NMSU lead with a run in each the fourth and fifth inning. Jack Pauley doubled to lead off the fourth, and came home for the first UNC run of the game on an Alex Kiel single up the middle. In the fifth, UNC had Tyler Yamaguchi and Matt Burkart start the inning with a double and walk to put pressure on the Aggies. Cole Maltese advanced the runners on a ground out, while Yamaguchi ended up coming home on a passed ball.

After shutting down the Aggies in the second through sixth innings, Hamilton ran into trouble in the seventh. Fishback walked to begin the inning and then with two outs, UNC intentionally walked Sakurai. Hamilton walked the next batter to load the bases and end his outing. Anthony Brady came in to relieve Hamilton and walked the first batter he saw, before getting a fly out to end the inning with NMSU up 6-2.

UNC was unable to put together a rally in the eighth or ninth, falling to New Mexico State 6-2.

Game Changer
With just one swing of the bat, New Mexico State put the game out of reach. Mason Fishback hit a three-run home run in the first inning to put his team up 5-0, and that was all the scoring the Aggies needed to pick up the win.

Notable
- When taking away the first inning in which New Mexico State scored five runs on four hits, UNC starter Aaron Hamilton went 5.2 strong innings allowing just one run on one hit while striking out five.
- Northern Colorado struggled with runners on base as they went just 1-for-13 in those chances.
- Tyler Yamaguchi continues to thrive at the nine hole, going 2-for-3 on the day with a double and run scored. He was the lone Bear with a multi-hit day.

Quotable
Head Coach Carl Iwasaki
"It was a tough weekend vs the top of the WAC team. Bright spots were (Connor) Leedholm's start Saturday and (Aaron) Hamilton settling in after a big first inning today. We now have to move forward in the remaining four weeks of conference play to earn a seed in the tournament."

What's Next?
The Bears return to Colorado next week, when they first go to Air Force on Tuesday afternoon, before hosting Utah Valley for a trio of games next weekend starting on Friday.