Lumberjacks Drop Last Inning Thriller to New Mexico State

Saturday, April 15

Las Cruces, NM

7:00 p.m.

Stephen F. Austin

16-16, 10-7

New Mexico State University

8-22, 6-11

Stephen F. Austin

New Mexico State

Lumberjacks Drop Last Inning Thriller to New Mexico State

4/15/2023 11:45:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

By: Colby Jackson, SFA Student Assistant for Strategic Communications

LAS CRUCES, NM - New Mexico State defeated Stephen F. Austin 11-9 as the Aggies won the game with a walk-off two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth to hand the Lumberjacks their second WAC series loss of the season. New Mexico State improves to 8-22 (WAC 6-11) and SFA falls to 16-16 (WAC 10-7).

Following a Peyton Parker RBI single in the top of the first, New Mexico State jumped out to a early lead by scoring five in the bottom of the first. The Aggie offense got off to a hot start as their first seven batters reached base, their lead-off hitter knocking one out with a solo homer. A double, walk, and four singles later, New Mexico State gained a 5-1 lead.

The Lumberjacks fought back in the second inning as Julian Thompson crushed a two-run long ball for his second home run of the series. A few batters later, Parker hit his second RBI single of the game, brining SFA's deficit to one at 5-4. The hot bats continued into the third inning as three consecutive singles drove in the tying run, Sam Adams getting the RBI. The 'Jacks took advantage of some Aggie pitching miscues as two walks drove in another run to give the 'Jacks the lead back. In his third at-bat of the game, Parker then drove in his third RBI with a sacrifice fly to give SFA the 7-5 lead after three.

New Mexico State quickly retied the game once again as the Aggies hit back-to-back homers to lead-off the bottom of the fourth. The long balls for New Mexico State didn't stop there as another two-run homer later in the inning gave the Aggies the lead at 9-7. After four innings, the Aggie offense had already picked up 13 hits.

With runs being scored in each of the first four innings, the bullpens came in and shut down the offenses, resulting in four scoreless innings. Reid Boyett pitched three scoreless innings for the Lumberjacks, striking out three in his appearance.

The action picked back up in the top of the ninth when Alex Rodgers and Clayton Loranger hit back-to-back singles to put runners on first and second for the 'Jacks. A failed pickoff attempt by the Aggie pitcher allowed Rodgers to score and moved Loranger to third. Parker tied the game at nine with his fourth RBI of the game and second sacrifice fly of the night.

With the game tied going into the bottom of the ninth, New Mexico State only needed one to win the game. The Aggies were able to lead off the inning with a walk, but the damage was done with the final hit of the game, as New Mexico State hit a two-run walk-off homer to win the game and secure the series win over the Lumberjacks.

Although suffering the loss, the Lumberjack offense was able to pick up 15 hits, all nine of the starters recording a hit on the night. Both Rodgers and Loranger were able to extended their hitting streaks, as they were able to pick up two and three hits, respectively.

The series finale will take place tomorrow at 1:00 p.m. as the Lumberjacks look to end the series with a win.