LAS CRUCES, N.M. -- Despite another great outing from senior Chris Jefferson in game one, and a two-RBI single from Brandon Dieter in the nightcap, the NM State Aggies baseball program dropped a pair of contests to California Baptist University, 4-2 (8) and 11-6 (7) Saturday at Presley-Askew Field.

Pitching his final home start as an Aggie (19-29, 16-18 WAC), Jefferson shoved in the opener, firing six stellar innings. The senior scattered six hits, allowed just one run and struck out eight Lancers (34-13, 25-6 WAC). Jefferson threw 93 pitches and located 63 of the pitches for strikes. In the nightcap, NMSU received the first inning two-RBI single from Dieter as well was a HR from Zach Smits.

GAME ONE:
The opener of Saturday's double-dip between NMSU and CBU was an old-fashioned pitchers-duel, as both Jefferson and Lancers RHP Bryan Pope, each shined.

After Jefferson worked around a two-out single, the Aggies offense used a one-out walk from Kevin Jimenez and a single from Ethan Mann to place a pair on base. Pope buckled down to strand both NMSU runners, using a strikeout and a grounder to escape the jam.

Jefferson allowed a lead-off single in the second but proceeded to answer with three straight strikeouts to strike out the side in the stanza, as the righty struck out four of the first eight batters he faced.
NM State threatened again in the second using back-to-back one-out singles and a two-out walk to load the bases for Jimenez, who just was nabbed at first on a ground out that ended the mini rally.

After erasing an early Lancer runner in the third on a double play, Jefferson allowed a two-out walk to ultimately score on back-to-back singles. The one run was the only run the senior allowed on the afternoon.

The Aggies put a pair on with one out and loaded the bases with two outs again, but Pope was able to work around the traffic, stranding his eighth Aggie baserunner of the first three innings.
With the Aggies down 1-0 in the bottom of the fourth, centerfielder Tommy Tabak hit his third home run of the season. The leadoff blast tied the game at one all.

After striking out a pair in the top of the fourth, Jefferson continued to assert control of the contest, using two more CBU strikeouts to pitch a 1-2-3 fifth.Pope answered the strong top of the fifth with a scoreless bottom half of the inning, as the game went to the sixth tied at one.

With two outs and a runner on third  in the sixth, the game entered a 39-minute lightning delay. After the short delay, Jefferson ultimately returned to the contest, and got a pop-up to strand the go-ahead run at third base.

Jacob McCarvel entered the game for CBU in the sixth, and allowed just a two-out Zerek Sanez single, as the game proceeded to the seventh and final inning tied at one. Lefty Frank Dickson Jr entered in relief of Jefferson and worked around a fielding error and a throwing error to fire a scoreless seventh.

Looking to walk the game off for the first time this season, Ethan Mann reached on a throwing error and advanced to second with nobody out. After a perfect sac-bunt placed Mann on third with one out, the Aggies tried a suicide squeeze with Dieter at the plate.

Sensing the Aggies might try something, CBU pitched out, leaving Mann hung up between third and home. After a quick conference, the umpires decided that Dieter interfered with CBU catcher Connor Clift and Mann was called out.

Dieter reached on an error with two outs, but ultimately was stranded and the originally scheduled seven inning game went into extras. With the game heading to extras each team was awarded a "free-runner" in the eighth. Using the free runner to its advantage, CBU scored three times off Dickson in the eighth to take a 4-1 lead.  

NMSU scored its free runner, Ronnie Allen Jr, to cut the deficit to 4-2, but CBU closer CJ Culpepper was able to strand the tying runs in scoring position to seal the 4-2 Lancer victory. Culpepper pitched both the seventh and eighth to earn the win, while Dickson was tagged with three runs (two earned) and earned his first loss of the season.

GAME TWO:
Due to the first game going extras, Saturday's nightcap was slated for just seven innings. The game started well for the home team, as the Aggies used a perfect 1-2-3 inning from Sammy Natera and a two-out single from Dieter to take a 2-0 lead. The single scored Mann and Jimenez who both singled with one-out and advanced on a wild pitch.

After Natera and CBU starter Drew Necochea traded zeros in the second and third, Natera ran into trouble in the fourth after retiring the leadoff batter on a beautiful play in the field by Jimenez.

Following the ground out, seven straight Lancers reached base on either a hit or a walk. All seven CBU batters came around to score, as the visitors scored eight times in the frame. The two big hits in the inning were a one-out bases loaded double from Ulises Caballero that plate three, and a three-run blast from John Glenn.

The three-run blast came with two outs in the inning and prompted a pitching change from Mike Kirby and the Aggie dugout. Lefty Brandon Rodriguez entered and retired the first batter he faced to
end the long inning.

Trailing 8-2, the Aggies began to try and chip away at the deficit, as Dieter tripled with one out and later scored on an Allen Jr single. The single forced Necochea from the game, as McCarvel entered from the 'pen with Allen Jr on first and one out.

After the CBU reliever struck out Britt Graham, the Aggies used three straight singles from Smits, Tabak and Saenz to plate two more runs. The three-run frame cut the Aggie deficit to just 8-5.

The Lancers used a lead-off home run in the fifth as well as a Glenn single in the sixth off Rodriguez to extend the lead to 10-5. Smits answered with his bomb in the home half of the sixth to cut the
game to 10-6, but CBU used another homer from Harrison Sophn to seal the 11-6 victory.

Pitching for the second time on the day, McCarvel earned the victory for CBU, pitching 3.2 innings of two-run relief work. The righty struck out five.
 
AT THE PLATE:
• The Aggies stranded 13 runners in the opener and four more in the night cap.
• NMSU went just 5-for-19 in the opener with RISP.
• With his 3-for-8 performance today, Saenz recorded hits number 69, 70 and 71. The 71 total hits are the most by a player in the WAC this season. With just two games remaining in the regular season, his average sits at .384 (best in the WAC).
• Saenz entered the weekend, 13^th in the country in total hits.
• Tabak extended his hitting streak to five straight contests and his on-base streak to 16 consecutive contests.
• The outfielder walked in just two official plate appearances last weekend at UVU, but has recorded at least one hit in 15 of the 16 games.
• Tabak is hitting .373 on the season and is one of six Aggies hitting above .300 (Saenz, Tabak, Smits, Mann, Jimenez and Villareal).
• Smits had another strong day at the plate, going 3-for-7 in the two contests. The infielder started both games at first base and scored twice in the nightcap.
• Prior to today, Smits two homers had come in back-to-back games (April 24-25) against Tarelton.

ON THE MOUND:
• The Aggies turned two more double plays Saturday and now have 45 for the year. Auburn led the country heading into the weekend having turned 49.
• The 45 twin killings would have ranked third in the nation entering the weekend.
• Jefferson was absolutely electric in his final start at the 'Skew, going six innings. The righty has now pitched at least six innings in five straight starts.
• He did however see his complete game streak snapped at four. Jefferson's seven CGs still lead the nation.  
• The senior earned his first no-decision of the season today. He has previously earned a decision (5-6) in his other 11-starts.
• Today's game-two setback is the first time since April 17 that the Aggies lost a game started by Natera. The Aggies had won three consecutive Natera starts.
• Before the nightmare fourth, Natera was cruising. The lefty retired the first six he faced and allowed no hits and two walks over the first three innings.
• After striking out a career-best 10 against UVU last Saturday, and at least five in three straight starts, the lefty managed just the two first inning strikeouts.
• Natera allowed more than three runs for the first time since his April 1 start at Oregon (five starts). The lefty allowed four runs in three innings in that start.

UP NEXT:
The Aggies will look to salvage the home and series finale Sunday afternoon. Sunday will serve as the Aggies 2021 'Senior Day' as NMSU will honor Jason Bush and Jefferson in a pre-game ceremony. First pitch from the 'Skew is slated for Noon. Righty Cam Blazek will take the ball for the Aggies.