ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – A masterclass was in session on Tuesday night in Albuquerque and the NM State pitching staff was giving the lesson. Behind the crafty work of Darius Garcia, Noah Estrella, and Matthew Maloney, the Aggies blanked in-state rivals New Mexico 2-0.
 
Garcia was in an absolute groove throughout his second start of the season. Garcia held the Lobos, who boast the nation's top batting average, hitless until the third inning. Garcia issued two free passes in the first two innings but worked around the mistakes without any issues.
 
New Mexico State took an early 1-0 lead in the second inning. After Christian Perez drew a walk to open the frame, Nolan Funke ripped a single back through the middle to put two runners aboard. Two batters later, Nick Gore went opposite field and poked a single to right field, scoring Perez and putting the Aggies in front.
 
Garcia got some help from Cal Villareal in the fourth inning when the Aggies' centerfielder chased down a ball in the right-center cap to take away extra bases. Garcia and the Lobos' Benjamin Baker-Livingston remained locked at 1-0 until both teams went to the bullpen. Garcia gave way to Noah Estrella with two outs in the bottom of the sixth inning.
 
After Estrella ended the sixth, he also went through the seventh and eighth innings without an issue as well. As the Aggies and Lobos went to the ninth inning, NM State was still clinging to a one-run lead and looking to tack on an insurance run.
 
Like a good neighbor, Villareal was there. The outfielder from Roswell launched a home run towards the Sandias, clearing the right field wall and pushing the Aggie lead to two.
 
As the Aggies took the field for the bottom of the ninth, Estrella once again climbed the hill with a commanding presence. For the first time on Tuesday night, though, the Lobo offense felt like it was clicking. After a walk and a double to right field, interim head coach Keith Zuniga motioned to the bullpen and decided to turn to Matthew Maloney. A Huntington Beach native, Maloney was cool and collected under pressure, retiring each of the two Lobo hitters he saw to conclude the win for NM State.
 
Quick Hits

• Albuquerque native Darius Garcia improves to 2-0 on the season with a miniscule 1.86 ERA
• Matthew Maloney picked up his first save of the season and the second for NM State's pitching staff.
• The shutout was NM State's first since the Aggies blanked UTRGV 10-0 in the 2022 WAC Tournament.
• Cal Villareal finished with three hits, including a ninth-inning home run, to help the Aggies pick up the victory.
• The win over New Mexico was the Aggies' first since April 16, 2019, snapping a four-game losing streak.
• Out of the bullpen, Noah Estrella worked 2.2 shutout innings
• The Aggies held New Mexico to a season-low five hits in the ballgame. The Lobos entered Tuesday leading the nation in batting average (.347) and second in hits (250)