LAS CRUCES, N.M. – College baseball is finally back in Las Cruces. Unfortunately, NM State dropped the season opener to the Bellarmine Knights 7-2 at Presley Askew Field on Friday night. A near-capacity 1,004 fans packed Presley Askew Field as the Aggies' got their season underway.
 
In the early part of the season, pitching tends to dominate the hitting and that was exactly the case for the NM State offense on Friday. The Aggies struck out 16 times in the season opener while recording just four hits. For Bellarmine, Noah Pender tossed a fantastic ballgame, working 6.0 innings and striking out 11 while allowing just two hits. Washington State transfer Keith Jones II picked up the Aggies' first hit of the season when he led off the fourth inning with a single to left field.
 
Making his first Division I start, Treyjen Meza was roughed up in the first inning before settling into a groove. Bellarmine homered twice in the inning before Meza notched his first strikeout to end the frame.
 
In the third inning, Bellarmine got a run on a groundout to Nolan Funke before Peyton Back hit a two-run home run down the left field line to put the Knights up 5-0. Back's long ball was the last time Meza was touched up as he allowed just two hits over his final three innings of work.
 
Bellarmine held the Aggies scoreless until the eighth inning when Gunner Antillon and Damone Hale picked up back-to-back knocks to spark the offense. Antillon's first hit of the season was a double off the left field wall before Hale used his blazing speed to beat out a bunt single. From there, the Aggies scored on a passed ball and a balk to cut the Knights' lead to three.
 
To lead off the ninth, Bellarmine launched its fourth home run of the night to left field, extending its lead back to four. The Knights brought their lead back to five when Blaszczyk scampered home after a throwing error on a pick-off attempt to third.
 
After Kevin Jimenez drew a two-out walk in the ninth inning, Nolan Funke refused to let Bellarmine escape with an easy win. Funke engaged with Matt Craven for a 12-pitch at-bat before Craven notched a strikeout for the victory.
 
Quick Hits

• The final six hitters in the NM State lineup combined to go just 1-21 at the plate on Friday night with the lone hit coming from Nolan Funke.
• Treyjen Meza made his NM State debut on the mound, striking out six over 6.0 innings of work.
• Bellarmine launched four home runs in the first game of the new season.
• Out of the bullpen, Noah Estrella fanned four hitters in just 3.0 innings.
• The Aggies first three hitters – Gunner Antillon, Damone Hale, and Keith Jones II – all recorded base hits in the contest.
• Five players – Meza, Hale, Jones, Karl Koerper, and Noah Karliner – made their NM State debuts on Friday night.
• Hale swiped two bases in the season opener
• 1,004 fans packed into Presley Askew Field as the Aggies fell to the Knights.

 
Up Next
The Aggies and Knights will play again on Saturday, February 18, beginning at 2:00 p.m. MT. The game will be streamed on the WAC Digital Network and will be broadcast over the airwaves on 91.5 FM KRUX.