NM State Aggies Baseball 2-25 to 29-20

NM State Aggies vs ASU Sundevils Baseball 2-25-20

This was the Aggies big mid-week game for the month in Tucson.  The Sundevils are ranked eighth in the nation.  One of their players, Spencer Torkelson, is ranked higher in the draft than our own Nick Gonzales.  Little wonder Adam Young reported on the radio coverage that there were over 70 scouts in the crowd.  There was a good crowd of fans, including Aggie fans.  A stiff wind was blowing in, so there wouldn’t be any power displays by either team, even including batting practice.  There was also video provided by Arizona State, which I had on, but was about 30 seconds behind the radio coverage.  I would watch after a good play was announced over the radio.

The Aggies started off the first with the bases walked loaded, but the ASU starter, Erick Tolman, struck out the side.  Frank Dickson Jr. started for the Aggies.  There was a near collision on a popup between Nick and outfielder Zerek Saenz.  A single scored a run to make it 1-0 ASU.  Nick had his first error of the year in the second.  ASU would load the bases, but Nick made a good play on a grounder to get the final out. 

Alex Pinedo started the third for the Aggies on this bullpen day.  He struck out the side only allowing a walk.  In the fourth, Nick made another good play and Pinedo ended the inning with a strikeout with two on.  Aldo Fernandez came on in the fifth for a 1-2-3 inning.  Tollman came out for the Sundevils in the sixth, but the Aggies still did not find success hitting.  In the bottom, the ASU bench started getting really vocal at the umpire about the strikezone and Pinedo’s low strikes.  Nick made another good play for an in-order inning.

In the seventh, ASU added a run to make it 2-0.  In the eighth, Tommy Tabak walked and Daniel Head pinch hit an RBI double.  It sounded like there were quite a few Aggie fans there, as it was now 2-1.  In an odd move, ASU replaced their pitcher with an 0-2 count on Zerek.  Nick was intentionally walked after to face Jason Bush, who hit a two-run double off of ASU closer, RJ Dabovich, 3-2 Aggies. 

In the bottom of the eighth, Mitchell Allen came in to pitch for the Aggies.  Kevin Jimenez made a great catch on a foul ball, but then Tristan Peterson made an error on an easier one.  This led to a big inning, as a triple would score two.  Tabak went all out to make the catch, but crashed into the wall.  He stayed in the game.  A sac fly gave the Sundevils a 5-3 lead.

The Aggies weren’t done yet.  In the top of the ninth, KJ tripled and was balked home to make it 5-4.  There were then two walks with two outs.  Nick was up and went to a full count.  On a wild pitch, Tabak took third.  Here came another critical error by an All-American, as Torkleson at short made an error on his throw that allowed the tying run to score, 5 all.

In the bottom of the ninth, Alex Reyes came in.  He allowed one baserunner, who he picked off of first to end the frame.  The Aggies did not score in the tenth.  Nick made his third error at short on the leadoff hitter.  This led to a downward spiral.  A bunt turned into a single.  Torkleson was given an intentional walk to load the bases.  The winning run was walked in.  6-5 ASU wins.

Four errors somewhat did in the Aggies.  In spite of the final inning, I was very encouraged by Aggie pitching.  They only yielded 3 earned runs in the loss.  Once again, Aggie batting showed that they have comeback potential at any time against anybody.  Given that there were shaky plays by both teams’ best players, I’d say all of the scouts in attendance may have given them some jitters.  I also wonder if playing on a natural surface might have affected Nick’s play.  He has been very good at the Skew, which has an artificial surface.  The result was a downer, but a fair gauge on how good this Aggie team is.

2-28-20 vs Perdue-Fort Wayne Mastodons

There was an interview on Wednesday on the Aggie Coach’s Show with Softball and Baseball.  Nikki Butler and Nick Gonzales were the player interviews.  Both of them came off really well representing themselves and the university.  Apparently, there’s a bit of a home run competition going on between the two “Nick’s.”  Nick G was pretty upbeat after having a tough game in Tucson.  Consider that this interview was after a nine-hour bus ride last night and practice that afternoon.  There’s a professional for you.

This weekend’s series against the Mastodons began on Friday night to full house of Little Leaguers.  I was watching the game on the WAC Digital Network at work.  I was able to watch intermittently while doing Month End processing.  Former Aggie pitcher, Matt McHugh, was in with Adam Young on the TV coverage.  It was a beautiful perfect night at the Skew.  I was really jealous that Ron and Jenny were at the game, though apparently all of the little kids and some of the adult fans were irritating them.      

The Aggies won 4-2 in a tight game.  Chance Hroch pitched seven innings and only gave up those two runs.  He was nibbling around the edges, which led to some trouble, but he was reportedly working on making sure he stayed away from giving up any hard hit balls.  Mitchell Allen came on in the eighth for a two-inning save.  I did see Noah Haupt hit a big opposite field home run in the game.  Tristan Peterson went 2 for 4 with an RBI, and Zach Smits went 3 for 4 with an RBI.

2-29-20 vs Perdue-Fort Wayne Mastodons

Myself, Ron, and Jenny were at Aggie Women’s Basketball, while Game 1 of this double header was going on.  Ron would show me periodic updates during the game.  The Aggies won 15-5, though technically this was a comeback win, as they were down 3-0 early.  Zach Smits went 3 for 5 with 2 RBI’s.  Noah Haupt went 4 for 6 with 3 RBI’s.  Nick Gonzales went 2 for 5 with 3 RBI’s.  His two hits were home runs.

After the Basketball game, we went for a late lunch.  There wasn’t much point in going to see Game 1, since they were in the eighth and the game was a blow out.  Ron and Jenny hadn’t told me at the time that they had family dinner plans.  I maybe could have gone back myself for Game 2, but a cold breeze was going outside and darkness would come on before the game.  Given I was getting over a cold from this week, I didn’t want to go alone.

That said (badly and meekly), boy did I feel somewhat dumb later.  Granted that I saw a great overtime basketball game and got a cool giveaway t-shirt, but when I saw the baseball stats later, I really missed out.  (It didn’t help that on Sunday I talked to a co-worker who was at the double header and he rubbed it in.)  The Aggies won 14-5.  Again, it was a comeback win as they were down early. 

No, the story bigger here is Nick Gonzales.  He went 3 for 5 with 7 RBI’s.  Ho hum.  Those three hits though were home runs!  The guy had five home runs on the day!  If you think those were all wind-aided, let me you straight.  Nobody else on the team hit a home run on Saturday.  (There was only one Mastodons home run.)  He’s not even swole or anything; he’s just real good at hitting.  Little wonder he got that national player of the week award on Monday, as shown above.  Noah Haupt also did well with his second game effort.  He went 4 for 5 with 5 RBI’s.