Coming off their best stretch of the conference season – a four-game conference win streak – the Aggie baseball campaign was in prime position to change the trajectory of their season with a three-game series against the team that, prior to the series, had the WAC’s worst conference record. New Mexico State missed that opportunity and got swept by Tarleton over the weekend instead.  

Wins against Tarleton not only would have stretched the Aggies’ distance from the bottom of the conference, but it would have avoided Tarleton from passing them up in the WAC standings – which they did. 

This season from NMSU baseball has been the definition of ‘up and down.’ One series they look like they are ready to turn their season around 360 degrees, and then the next thing you know, they are back on a multiple game losing streak. With the WAC tournament creeping around the corner, New Mexico State must not falter at the opportunity to jump in the standings. They will now be competing for the last spot in the tournament for the remainder of the season.  

GAME ONE: BACK TO THEIR OLD WAYS 

Game one was a tale that we have seen all too often this season – giving up multiple runs in the first inning and not being able to claw back. 

Aggie ace, Treyjen Meza (1-6), took the mound in game one of the series and in sequence gave up: a double, an RBI single, an RBI triple, an infield flyout, and an RBI single before lining out and striking out his final two batters. This opening frame was the worst of the 5.2 innings that Meza pitched. However, starting down 0-3, the Aggies just weren’t able to answer the whole game, scoring just one run in the third inning to end up losing the series opener 1-7. 

GAMES TWO AND THREE: AN ACCOLADE IN A GLOOMY DOUBLEHEADER 

Games two and three were both played on Saturday due to projected weather. Nothing like a full day of baseball. 

Game two was a dog fight from the beginning. Both teams were held at zero for the first three innings until a four-run innings for the Aggies gave them their first lead of the series. This fourth inning also saw long-tenured Aggie second baseman possess sole possession of second place in the program’s all-time doubles list. A remarkable feat for the senior Kevin Jimenez. 

However, Tarleton would answer back with eight runs in the next two innings, holding the lead for the remainder of the game and giving the NMSU a 7-9 loss in the first game of the day’s doubleheader.  

Game three was the lowest scoring game of the series. Three runs in the first two innings for Tarleton was all that they would need to win the game. Kevin Jimenez scoring off a throwing error in the fourth and Nolan Funke bringing Keith Jones II in on a double in the sixth just were not enough for New Mexico State as they would lose the final game of the series 2-3. 

Although it feels like time may soon be running out for the Aggies to make something out of this season, there are still three more conference series’ left in the season and going over .500 in those games would surely help this team get the chance to defend their 2022 WAC title. That journey starts with a midday game on Tuesday the 25th against OUAZ, who gave them their most dominant win of the season with a score of 23-2. Yet another opportunity to gain momentum in hopes of turning the season around. This matchup will surely show if the Aggies take advantage of what’s in front of them moving forward.