The New Mexico State Aggies (16-19, 7-8 CUSA) hosted the University of New Mexico Lobos (22-13-1, 8-3-1 MW) in a midweek rivalry game that was originally scheduled for March 31 but had to be postponed and later rescheduled. Despite entering the matchup as the favored team, the Lobos were outplayed in all phases of the game. The Aggies took control early and never looked back, winning 6-1.
The Aggies wasted no time setting the tone offensively, putting together a strong opening inning that immediately put pressure on the Lobos. In the bottom of the first inning, New Mexico State pushed across three runs thanks to timely hitting and aggressive baserunning. Steve Solorzano, Camden Kaufman, and Chris Daniels each crossed home plate during the inning, capitalizing on multiple hits and taking advantage of early pitching struggles from the Lobos. That early surge gave the Aggies a cushion that allowed them to play comfortably for the remainder of the contest.
In addition to scoring in the first inning, Chris Daniels contributed significantly at the plate, finishing with two RBIs. He delivered the biggest hit of the night in the fifth inning when he launched a home run, which ultimately capped off New Mexico State’s scoring. Easton Rulli also made an impact offensively, matching Daniels with two RBIs and helping sustain the Aggies’ momentum across multiple innings.
On the other side, the Lobos struggled to generate any consistent offense against an effective Aggies pitching staff. The Lobos managed just four hits over the course of the game, highlighting the difficulty they had in stringing together productive at-bats. Anthony Diaz accounted for half of those hits, recording two and providing one of the few bright spots in an otherwise quiet offensive performance. The Lobos were held scoreless through seven innings before finally breaking through in the eighth, when Caleb Herd hit a solo home run to account for their only run of the night.
Pitching played a significant role in shaping the outcome of the game. Ethin Woltz (L, 0-2) took the loss for the Lobos after a short outing in which he pitched 2.1 innings. During his time on the mound, Woltz allowed five hits and was charged with four earned runs, putting his team in an early deficit that proved difficult to overcome. Following his exit, Tyler Do, Seth Lee, Luke Wiseman, and Matt Cornelius each saw action in relief. Collectively, the Lobos pitching staff allowed a total of 12 hits and six runs, unable to contain the Aggies’ lineup.
For New Mexico State, Hazen Wright (W, 2-0) earned the win with an efficient and effective performance. Wright pitched three innings and did not allow a single hit, setting the tone early and giving his team a strong foundation. He was supported by JT Price, Jake Carvajal, and Carson Timmons, who handled the remainder of the game on the mound. Together, the Aggies pitchers allowed just four hits and one run, maintaining control and preventing any significant comeback attempt by the Lobos.
With the win, the Aggies gained momentum heading back into conference play. They are set to host Sam Houston State (14-23, 4-11 CUSA), with the series opener scheduled for 6 p.m. on Friday, March 17. Meanwhile, the Lobos will look to regroup after the loss as they prepare for an upcoming series against the Mountain West runner-up University of Nevada, which is set to begin April 17 in Albuquerque.
