With a three game weekend series against Sacramento State at home, the New Mexico State Baseball campaign was able to snag a game from the Hornets on Saturday in walk off fashion in the ninth inning. However, the Aggies would lose the series on Sunday against their fellow conference opponents.  

Game one of the series took place Friday with the Hornets putting their bats to use in the opening inning as they scored the game’s first five runs. The early offense recorded three doubles, which two were RBI doubles.  

Waiting until the bottom of the fourth to add a run when third baseman, Gunner Antillon, smashed his first collegiate home run. The momentum continued in the fifth as the home squad would go on to score two runs off two hits, to make it a 5-3 game heading into the sixth inning. Following a pair of scoreless innings, NM State clawed its way back in the eight as Brandon Dieter recorded his third homer of the season to cut the deficit to one.  

The comeback failed after seven straight scoreless innings when Sacramento State grew the lead to two in the ninth when Nick Awasa was walked and later reached home following a double by Jorge Bojorquez to give the Hornets a 6-4 lead. Despite being able to get a run back, the Aggies comeback would fall short as Brandon Dieter grounded out with a runner in scoring position.  

In game two, this Crimson squad opened the game by getting three consecutive runners on base before Logan Gallina smashed a double down the right field line to score two runs in the bottom of the first. Leading the Aggies in batting average, Gunner Antillon reached second base. As he stood there, Kevin Jimenez smashed the fifth pitch he saw for a two-run shot to give NM State an early 5-0 lead.  

The Hornets would find their first hit of the game in the third inning and used two doubles and a single to score three runs in the top half. The next three half innings were scoreless for both teams, but Sacramento State would blow the lead open in the top of the fifth. The WAC home run leader Cesar Valero added to his tally smashing a three RBI home run to give the Hornets a 7-5 lead.  

Helping NM State find their niche in the game, Gunner Antillon and Ryan Grabosch both reached base in the bottom of the fifth before the Aggies home run leader, Logan Gallina, sent a ball into orbit to give the home squad a 8-7 lead.  

Following a scoreless sixth the Hornets would retake the lead in the seventh from back-to-back solo home runs by Jorge Bojorquez and outfielder Cesar Valero to put Sacramento State ahead by one.  

After tying the game up in the bottom of the eight, the Aggies held Sacramento State scoreless in the top of the ninth. Eager to not lose the series, senior Tommy Tabak singled with two outs. A pitch later Tabak moved his way to a scoring position after stealing second. The next batter up, Nolan Funke stood at the plate, poised. With the second pitch in his at bat, Funke did what he did and singled up the middle to score Tabak and win game two 10-9 in walk off fashion.  

Game three of the series was highlighted by Tommy Tabak who hit home runs on two of his three at bats. The first coming in the bottom of the second inning, and the second coming in the sixth inning. After Brandon Dieter and Ryan Grabosch reached base, Tabak smashed a three-run homer to tie the game at five after six.  

In the next three innings Sacramento State would go on to score nine runs with the help of a three-run homer by Cesar Valero and a two-shot home run by Dylan McPhillips. Failing to answer, NM State would only score one run in their next three innings and eventually drop the series with a 14-6 loss on Sunday afternoon.  

“You know he (Gunner Antillon) really brings a different energy to us. Not only for our offense, but also on the defensive side. It’s kind of neat having the brothers play together. It pumps me up,” head coach Mike Kirby said.  

Still looking to establish a winning streak, the Aggies head to Tucson, Ariz. for a quick stop to face number twelfth ranked Arizona on Tuesday night at 6 p.m. Before heading back home for a weekend series against the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley.