Kai Wagner Records First-Career Multi-HR Game

Friday, March 1

Las Cruces, N.M.

6 p.m.

University of Northern Colorado

0-9

New Mexico State

3-6

Northern Colorado

NMSU

3/2/2024 12:45:00 AM | Baseball

Box Score Final Box Score Updated Season Stats

By: Michael High, Assistant Director for Strategic Communications

NMSU 11, UNC 6
Friday, March 1, 2024
Presley Askew Field | Las Cruces, New Mexico

WP -- Trey Meza (2-1)
LP -- Dylan Smith (0-3)
SV -- None

LAS CRUCES, N.M. – Kai Wagner homered twice and Carson Gross notched his first home run of the season but Northern Colorado suffered an 11-6 setback in the series opener against New Mexico State at Presley Askew Field Friday.

With two outs and nobody on in the fourth inning, Kai Wagner blasted his first of two home runs of the game, cutting the Bears' deficit to 7-1.

The Aggies pushed their cushion to 10, with a pair of two-run home runs in the bottom of the frame.

In the sixth, Gross deposited the first pitch he saw over the outfield wall, doubling UNC's run total. Garrett Fisher opened the seventh with a double down the left-field line. Following a pair of strikeouts, Brandon Sanchez worked a walk, after falling into a 0-2 hole. Jackson Meier and Jake King delivered back-to-back RBI singles closing the margin to 11-4, with two innings remaining.

Kai Wagner deposited the first delivery of the eighth inning over the outfield wall, inching UNC a run closer. Fisher singled and Austin Bunn reached on an Aggies' miscue but the rally stalled the Bears left both men on base.

In the ninth, a single by Jake King and back-to-back two-out walks by Kai and Caden Wagner loaded the bases. King trimmed the margin to five, when he scampered home on a wild pitch but New Mexico State closed the door with a strikeout.

UNC scored six runs on 10 hits, with eight runners stranded on base, while the Aggies totaled 11 runs, 10 hits and left four men on.

Up Next
UNC and New Mexico State continue the four-game wrap-around series Saturday at 2 p.m.

Home Opener
The Bears open the 2024 home slate against St. Thomas in Summit League action Friday, March 15 – Sunday, March 17.