OREM, Utah -- Behind a five-run third inning in the nightcap, the NM State Aggies baseball program split a doubleheader Saturday afternoon against Utah Valley University at Doterra Field at UCCU Ballpark.

After falling 4-2 in the first game, the Aggies (19-26, 16-15 WAC) bounced back to take the nightcap 10-7. With the victory, the Aggies are now 7-2 in their last nine WAC games and 8-2 in the last 10 games. 

Freshman Sammy Natera looked good in his start, pitching 5.2 strong innings. The lefty allowed just one run and struck out a career-best 10. Infielder Ethan Mann provided the big blow offensively for NMSU, hitting a three-run shot in the top of the third inning. The dinger was Mann's second of the day, and ninth of the season.

GAME ONE:
Senior Chris Jefferson looked to be in control early Saturday, as the righty retired the first eight batters that he faced.

Staked to a 1-0 lead after Mann's solo shot, Jefferson allowed a bloop two-out single to Tavyn Lords. The single extended the inning for Mitch Moralez who gave the Wolverines (8-37, 6-25 WAC) a 2-1 lead on his second home run of the season.

UVU would extend its lead to 3-1 in the home half of the fourth when Alexander Marco poked his eighth home run of the season. The Aggies answered in the top of the fifth when shortstop Brandon Dieter singled home Mann who walked with one out. The single-placed runners on first and second.

After a fielder's choice placed runners on the corner with two outs, designated hitter Ronnie Allen Jr purposely got into a rundown situation. Cal Villareal, the runner at third, broke for the plate, but the Wolverines calmly threw the outfielder out at the plate for the third and final out.

UVU homered for the third consecutive inning when Jake Plecas took Jefferson deep with one out in the fifth.

NM State managed just one hit over the final two innings, as the Wolverines were able to hold on for the 4-2 victory. The setback snapped NMSU's four-game winning streak.

GAME TWO:
The Aggies struck first in the third inning of Saturday's nightcap using a leadoff double from Tommy Tabak and a Zerek Saenz single to manufacture the first run of the ballgame. A Kevin Jimenez single-placed runners on first and second with nobody out for Mann, who blasted a three-run shot that gave the Aggies a 4-0 lead.

Villareal answered with the Aggie's fifth straight hit of the frame and later stole second base. The outfielder came around to score the fifth run of the frame on Zach Smits ground-rule double.

Following another two-strikeout inning in the bottom of the third from Natera, the Aggies scored for the second consecutive inning in the fourth when Mann walked with two outs and advanced to third
on a Villareal single. The infielder later stole home when Villareal was caught stealing at second base.

Handed a 6-0 lead, Natera again was dominant in the home half of the fourth, as the lefty worked a perfect 1-2-3 inning with back-to-back strikeouts.

NM State broke the game open in the top of the fifth, using a leadoff double from Dieter, and a pair of walks to load the bases with one out. The next Aggie batter, Tabak, pushed a single through the left side of the infield that scored Dieter and Smits giving the visitors a 9-0 lead.

The Wolverines answered in their turn at-bat in the sixth, using a lead-off double, a hit batter and two walks to cut the Aggie lead to 9-1. The second free pass forced a pitching change for NMSU, as Natera was lifted in favor of Hayden Johns. The reliever calmly struck out the next UVU batter to end the inning.

NMSU and UVU would trade runs in the top of the seventh, making the score 10-2. The NM State run scored on a Mann sac fly, while the Wolverines run came on a Kyle Coburn solo shot.

The Wolverines used a scoreless top of the eighth, and a leadoff double to spark a four-run eighth, but lefty Brandon Rodriguez buckled down and recorded the last three outs.

Trailing 10-6, UVU added a solo homer off Nick Rogers, but Rogers recovered to seal the deal.

ON THE MOUND:
• The Aggies have now won three straight Natera starts. After earning his first career win last weekend, the lefty earned his second victory today.
• Natera pitched into the sixth inning for the first time in his career.
• Led by Natera's career-best 10, the Aggies struck out 12 UVU batters
• Natera allowed just two hits in his outing.
• Jefferson needed just 67 pitches. He allowed just four hits and four runs over his six innings.
• The righty recorded his NCAA-best seventh complete game of the season.
• NMSU turned its 40th twin-killing of the year in game one, which would have been fourth in the country entering the weekend.

AT THE DISH:
• With his five-RBI performance, Mann raised his WAC-leading RBI total to 56. Mann has now homered in three of his last four contests.
• Mann's homer was his team-leading ninth of the season. He passed teammate Brandon Dieter for the team lead.
• Despite walking once, Tabak saw his 10-game hitting streak snapped in the opener. The outfielder has now reached base in 12 straight contests.
• Tabak did go 3-for-4 in the nightcap. His average sits at .370. Tabak has raised his average by nearly 60 points since he returned from injury back on April 24.
• He's hitting 19-for-34 in that span (.559).
• The Aggies recorded six extra-base hits in the nightcap.
• Smits recorded his first two doubles of the season.

UP NEXT:
The Aggies will look to secure their second straight series victory Sunday when the two teams meet for the series final. First pitch from Orem is set for Noon. Sophomore Cam Blazek is scheduled to take the ball for NM State.
 

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