CHICAGO – The New Mexico State baseball team opened a three-game weekend series against Western Athletic Conference opponent Chicago State on Friday night. After being held scoreless in the first two innings, the Aggies rallied and put at least one run up on the board in the remaining five innings to defeat the Cougars by run-rule, 12-1.

How it happened

Kyle Bradish took the mound for NM State (31-19, 15-4 WAC) against Chicago State (11-36, 7-12 WAC) southpaw, Brad Moore. The opponent struck first in the bottom half of the opening frame when a one-out single to right field brought in a runner from second to put the Aggies down 1-0 early.

Each team got men in scoring position in the second, but the pitchers settled down and tossed scoreless innings to keep the Aggies deficit at one run. That deficit did not last long, however, because a balk by the Cougar pitcher brought in the tying run for NM State in the top of the third.

In the fourth inning, Tristen Carranza laced a one-out double to left center to put himself in scoring position. Marcus Still then laid down a bunt single and a throwing error to first brought in Carranza for the go-ahead run. Still then stole two bags and a Joey Ortiz base hit to the shortstop brought in the team's third run of the game.

The team extended their lead in the fifth when a one-out double to right center by Austin Botello scored a runner from second, followed by a single to left by Dan Hetzel which scored Botello and gave the Aggies a 5-1 edge.

Greg Popylisen used his wheels to get on base with a bunt single in the sixth, followed by a stolen base and a sacrifice fly which put the senior 90 feet from home plate. That was all Popylisen needed as a base knock to third base brought him home. Bradish then came out and tossed his third one-two-three inning of the game to hold the team's 6-1 advantage.

NM State got a rally going in the seventh and looked to put away the opposition. A bases loaded sacrifice fly by Still brought in the first-run of the inning and with two outs, the bats caught fire. In the next at-bat, Popylisen singled and a throwing error moved him to second and brought home two more runs for the Aggies.

With men on first and second, Sakurai roped a triple to left center and brought home a pair and then LJ Hatch singled through the left side and scored Sakurai to give the Aggies a 12-1 lead.

The opposition tried to cut into the NM State lead in the bottom of the seventh. With men on the corners, a passed ball looked to bring in a runner but Aggie catcher Mason Fishback got the ball at the backstop and made a clean throw to Bradish at the plate to get the man and seal the 12-1 run-rule victory.

Bradish (8-1) picked up the win after tossing his first complete game of the season and the second in a row for the NM State staff. The hurler also recorded his second straight 10-strikeout performance.

The Aggie offense combined for 13 hits, led by Sakurai with four and a team-high three RBI, while Hatch, Botello and Popylisen each added a pair of base knocks.

Game two of the weekend series between New Mexico State and Chicago State is set for Saturday, May 13, at 2 p.m. MT.