NM State Aggies vs Sacramento State Hornets Baseball 4-9-22

I was going to start this off with a quick recap of Aggie Baseball and Softball since my last post.  However, while listening to Friday night’s disappointing loss to Sacramento State, Adam Young gave a season report that put Baseball’s season in perspective.  The Aggies’ 3-10 conference record qualifies them to buy a ticket and watch the WAC Tournament like everybody else.  Were it not for a couple of teams in their division that aren’t eligible for the postseason, they’d already be eliminated.  There’s still a chance to make it as of now.

 

I appreciate that the Aggies played GCU tough last weekend in Phoenix and won one.  GCU’s a team that’s had some national ranking consideration.  Friday night’s game against the Hornets might have been winnable, but they lost starter, Rorik Maltrud, right before the game with an injury.  They’ve already lost Sammy Natera, probably their ace.  Also, I was told that Zerek Saenz had entered the Transfer Portal after being dismissed from or quitting the team.  This guy was a star last year.  They lost bopper Ethan Mann before the season.  This team couldn’t afford to lose any good players this season to have any real chance to compete.

 

Part of me would have rather have gone over to dad’s and watched The Masters.  On the other hand, it was a beautiful day and I like baseball more than golf.  I also didn’t want to disappoint Ron again, since I’d declined to go to Softball last weekend with him.  (He reported that none of the players took a knee during those games for the Anthem.  There must have been a talking-to at some point to the players.) 

 

We arrived at the stadium and chatted with fellow fan, Michael.  He’s gotten good and salty towards Coach Kirby’s management of the team.  Ron has gotten good and salty towards the team’s prospect of winning on any given game day.  And I just didn’t entirely want to be at the ballpark today.  It was a fun group.                

 

Here was a group happy to be at the park, Sorority Zeta Tau Alpha.  One of their hotter members threw out the first pitch.  Sac State brought a bunch of fans with them, including a couple of very attractive young women.  One was wearing a Hornets jersey and the other, maybe a sister, was in a shirt dress.  I was tempted to switch sides.  Instead, I went to the Concessions and got Corn-in-the-Cup and a Brisk Lemon Tea.  A girl behind me asked, “What is that?” pointing at the cup.  I told her and she seemed intrigued and thought she’d try one later.  (Ron and Michael still haven’t seen the light on this item.)         

 

Given all of the runs, hits, pitchers, and subs, I was surprised how close my scorecards were to the official scoring.  There was an obvious error in the first that ruled a hit, but changed at some point, though not on the scoreboard.  I had three wild pitches in the game.  The Scorer had them as Passed Balls.  I had a player on the Hornets wrong for the whole game (probably wearing a different number than the program) and another one was subbed out early and I didn’t notice.  There was the usual discrepancy between earned and unearned runs.  Maybe I’ll figure those scoring rules out someday.

 

This game took three hours and 40 minutes.  You can guess why from looking at Sac State’s scorecard—nine pitchers were used.  That might be a record for a game I was keeping score of.  There were also six position player subs.  Ron said their coach used a bunch of subs last night, too.  If you’re in uniform in the Hornet’s dugout, stay loose.

 

Pablo Cortes started for the Aggies.  Gunner Antillon made a great play on a foul ball near the Aggie dugout to end the top of the first.  Both teams made several good plays in the field today.  That said, in the bottom, Gunner got on by a walk and Kevin Jimenez got on via an error.  Ryan Grabosch, DH’ing today, singled to load the bases (after inexplicably trying to bunt the runner over).  Logan Galina cut down on his big swing and instead hit a grounder between first and second to score two.  Tommy Tabak scored another with a fielder’s choice to make it 3-0 Aggies.

 

The Aggies added a couple more in the second.  After Catcher Hunter Antillon doubled, KJ blasted a moonshot just inside the right field foul pole.  It looked like Josh Walker in right had a chance to bring it back, so the fans on both sides had to wait for a second to see who was going to get to cheer.  Walker came back with a great catch on a foul on Grabosch.  All the fans gave him a hand for that.  5-0 Aggies.

 

A sorority girl behind us was singing along with all of the PA music (that was in English).  It seemed a little early to be drunk.  Maybe she was just happy to be there.  The crowd was into it in general.  Cortes ran into trouble in the third.  He gave up three hits and hit a batter and gave up three runs, one on a passed ball.  5-3 Aggies.  The Hornets did threaten again in the fourth with a couple of singles.  KJ made an unassisted out on a grounder to second and executed a spin throw to first.  Logan laid all the out for it and somehow managed to keep a toe on the bag to finish the double play.

 

In the fifth, the Hornets again put two on via singles.  Brandon Dieter made a dive stop at short to throw out one of the runners.  But, Cesar Valero came up next and blasted a three-run homer to left center.  The breeze must have been going out that way, because Dawsen Bacho came up next and hit another one to the same spot.  The Hornets were now up 7-5. 

 

The Aggies stung back in the bottom.  (Wait, that analogy doesn’t work.  Whatever.)  Gunner led off with a ground rule double that bounced over the right field wall.  He scored on a hit-and-run by Grabosch.  He was, again inexplicably, thrown out trying to steal second.  No problem.  Dieter got on via an error and Logan found that Jetstream to left and put one into the trees.  8-7 Aggies back in the lead.

 

There wasn’t any scoring in the sixth, but there was some good defense.  Gunner made a good catch on a liner at third.  Jorge Bojorquez at short for the Hornets made a great diving catch behind second on a soft liner.  In seventh, the Hornets slammed two back-to-back solo home runs to left.  Valero made a monster bat flip after his.  The umpire had a chat with the Sac State coach as Valero rounded the bases.  9-8 Hornets. 

 

I haven’t been mentioning all of the pitching changes for this game.  It’d be too tedious.  The crowd had been halved as the game had dragged on and was now a lot more subdued.  For the bottom of the seventh, Sac State went through three pitchers.  (One was serenaded with this song from High School Musical, Fabulous.  Pretty funny.)  On some level that strategy was a success.  The Aggies loaded the bases on a single, two walks, and a hit batter.  That was KJ.  He was hit on the fingers and in obvious pain.  Some Hornets fans complained that he had swung.  Ron grumbled, “Why are you complaining?  You’re going to win anyway.”  After two passed balls (and Grabosch trying to bunt again for some reason), Dieter was able to drive in a run with a grounder which tied the score at 9. 

 

After two walks to start the top of the eighth, Alex Bustamante came in.  He’d had a rough outing earlier in the week against the Lobos and took the loss in the ninth.  Alex hit a batter to load the bases.  Ron muttered, “Here’s where the wheels come off.”  Suddenly, the wind started gusting.  Little dust devils were twisting on the warning track.  Alex didn’t take that as an ominous sign and got a strikeout and a flyout to end the inning without damage.

 

Preston Godfrey singled with one out in the bottom of the eighth.  He was lifted for the speedy Kyle Westfall.  Ron had mentioned before the game that Kyle had taken a hard shot to the fingers in last night’s game.  It was good to see him back playing the next day.  Gunner singled him to second on a dropped popup (generously not ruled an error). 

 

Kyle danced around second enough to nearly get picked off.  Undeterred, him and Gunner executed a double steal.  It was unnecessary as KJ drew another Purple Heart and was plunked on the foot.  He was pissed as he hobbled to first to load the bases.  That brought out the third Hornet pitcher of this inning.  I got to hear all of Grabosch’s walk up music during the warm up, which I liked.  Ron grumbled, “Here comes the double play.”  Sure enough, it happened, which ended the inning. 

 

Hey, it’s Blink 182 on the PA with What’s My Age Again?  I hadn’t heard that song in a while.  I’ve at least been enjoying most of the music at the park today.  Alex interleaved two looking-strikeouts with a single and a hit batter before ending the inning with a groundout.  The Sac State coach consulted with the ump before subbing the DH for last inning’s pitcher as a pinch runner.  I guess that works with the rules.  (The DH rules are impossible if you ever read them.) 

 

The heart of the Aggies’ lineup came up and went down in the ninth with a couple of strikeouts.  I really didn’t want extra innings.  Thankfully, Tabak came up and singled.  On the first pitch to Nolan Funke, he stole second.  Funke then singled right up the middle to drive him in.  That was so quick, I was shocked.  Aggies win 10-9!  The team stormed the field to mob Funke.  Ron had nothing to say.  (Worst Aggie play-by-play announcer ever.)  He may have been disappointed with the win.  Some frat guys behind us weren’t and sang the Aggie fight song as the music played over the PA. 

 

I felt a lot better about coming to the game after the win.  I felt a whole lot better that the game was finally over.  After going to the bathroom, I came out and saw Ron talking to one of the players in the Kiss-and-Cry.  It was Kyle Westfall.  He was telling Ron that he was in a lot of pain after getting hit yesterday.  I smacked my own fingers a week ago and they’re still a little sore. 

 

Let’s throw out the Gameballs.  Hornet Cesar Valero had two home runs and 4 RBI’s and he wasn’t even a starter.  Out of 13 pitchers in the game, I’m just recognizing Alex Bustamante for his two scoreless innings in picking up the win.  Aggie hitting was led by Gunner Antillon going 3 for 4 and Logan Galina going 2 for 4 and driving in 4 runs.  Of course, Nolan Funke also gets one for his game-winning hit.  As the website put it, “The Aggies visit Funke Town in Saturday Walk-Off.”  I’m not sure if I’m jealous of that writing or cringing from it.  Maybe a little of both.

 

Ron had a much more satisfying meal at What-a-burger than I did.  I can’t believe they haven’t had their franchise pulled after once again serving watered down Dr. Pepper.  I went through three other types of drinks without satisfaction.  I also wasn’t happy with my insufficiently grilled sandwich.  I made it over to my dad’s apartment just in time to see the Masters go off the air for the day.  Oh well, I’m content with just getting the win.