NMSU Baseball Places Fourth at Pepsi/Johnny Quik Classic
by NMSU Athletics
FRESNO, Calif.: The New Mexico State baseball team dropped their second game of the week to Indiana after they lost 14-6 in the third place game of the Pepsi/Johnny Quik Classic at Pete Beiden Field in Fresno, Calif., Saturday, March 15.
The Aggies finished 2-4 in the tournament and fall under .500 for the first time this season with a 6-7 record. NMSU starting pitcher Oliver Webster made is fifth appearance of the season and fell to 0-1. Head coach Rocky Ward was glad that he could get his team into this tournament before heading into conference play.
“We played well in a couple games but in four of them we didn’t,” Ward said. “This is a good preseason tournament to play in and it’s good that we exposed some weaknesses that need to get fixed.”
The Aggies scored six runs on nine hits, but struggled defensively as they committed five errors on the day.
NMSU got two runs on the board in the first inning with RBI from junior designated hitter Colin Crouthamel (Elma, Wash.) and senior outfielder Tyler Hardt (Hereford, Ariz.), but the Hoosiers answered right back with two runs of their own in the bottom of the innings as they were the home team.
Indiana took the lead with a solo home run in the third, but the Aggies regained the lead with two runs in the top of the fourth off a two RBI double by Marcos Rosales (Gilbert, Ariz.). Indiana would even the line when they scored off a double.
The Hoosiers pulled away from NMSU in the fifth in with nine runs scored off seven hits and two errors, while they left one runner on base.
“We need to stop allowing those big innings,” Ward said. “We just cant give up 6 or 7 runs and if we do we need to answer right back with a big inning of our own.”
NMSU put two more runs in the sixth off a Marcus Quade (Littleton, Colo.) RBI double to center field. Quade eventually scored that inning when the Indiana centerfielder dropped a fly ball hit by Aggie first baseman Chris Auten (Agovra Hills, Calif.).
“Because the season is set-up the way it is we got two days off then we have to get back at it,” Ward said. “There’s not much time to rest but it’s ok because we need to get out there and play.”
The Aggies get right back into action with a double-header against I-25 rival New Mexico at Presley Askew. The first game is set to begin at 2:05 p.m. (MDT) with the second starting immediately after. Live stats, a recap and box score of the game will be available at www.nmstatesports.com. The first game of the double-header will be broadcast on the radio at KSNM AM 570 with Jeff Matthews giving the play-by-play action.
