NM State Aggies vs La Salle Explorers Baseball Game 1, 3-9-19

 

  

Game 1

It was the last scheduled double header of the season for Aggie Baseball.  I wasn’t entirely looking forward to a full day at the ballpark again.  I’d already almost gotten sick at one and really haven’t enjoyed these marathons.  I really wish they’d do two seven-inning games like they do in Triple-A for Pete’s sake.  When I first started going to these DH’s, it was a nine-inning game and a seven-inning game.  Theoretically, managers want these two full games before conference play so they can get more at bats and see more players in action, but I think shortening these DH games would create more pressurized situations or, at least, cut short some unnecessary batting practice.

Thankfully, it was a nice day.  Last night’s wind and hail storm during the game with La Salle had left all the seats at the stadium covered in a dash of mud.  Today, the light wind had a little chill to it and a smattering of clouds kept the sun from burning bare skin.  Later on, the wind picked up, but it never got bad.  The good weather brought out a pretty good crowd (and pretty good-looking with several attractive women).  There were a lot of scouts there.  I saw one clearly identified with the Padres.  I was sitting there aching watching them.  I wanted to look at the notes they were taking soooo bad.

Ron was with me for the game.  I wasn’t sure he’d be available today.  Consequently, he showed up during my breakfast while I was about to engage in hand-to-hand combat with a kiwi fruit using a knife.  I ended up having to skip it and was hungry for most of the game.  Before the game, we chatted about Captain Marvel’s history, since there are two movies coming out about the characters (Marvel’s Captain Marvel and DC’s Shazam).  What an incredibly tortured history this comic book character(s) has had.  I’d be tempted to write a blog post about it, but others have done it better than I could, and the story would take too long and would go nowhere.

Intern Emerson looked lovely.  That’s all I’ll say about her.  Apparently, I need something pretty to look at while watching Men’s sports.  (Don’t knock it.  Why do you think there are Cheerleaders at football and basketball games.)  The WAC commissioner threw out the first pitch at the game.  The home plate umpire was wearing a baby blue mask.  I’d never seen one of those before.  This time the Anthem somehow caught both teams off guard as they scrambled into position.  Coach Green hobbled over to stand in line.  It’s good he’s able to move around on his own now.

Aggie starter, Justin Dehn, gave up a leadoff hit to Peyton Sorrels of the Explorers to start the game.  Peyton got moved over to second and then danced around enough to where Dehn calmly turned around and picked him off.  Logan Bottrell led off the bottom with a hustle double on an opposite field hit.  Joey Ortiz delivered him with an oppo single.  1-0 Aggies.  Coach Green had mandated before the game that the guys try to hit to the opposite field.  He was right. 

Joey then made a poor decision to try to steal second on a bobbled catch by the catcher and was thrown out.  Tristan Carranza just missed a home run off the left field wall, settling for a double.  Left fielder Quinton Brown nearly straight robbed it, but kept it from going out.  The game had to be stopped for a couple minutes after.  I’d noticed Sorrels was having some kind of nasal problem at second earlier.  Finally, a trainer had to come out.  He had a nose bleed.  I wonder if he took a hit getting Joey at second.  Ron got up and left to go chase foul balls.  He is becoming dangerously obsessed.  The PA stopped asking for them back.  The Aggies left the bases loaded to end the first.

There would be radio for both games of today’s double header.  The WAC commissioner came on for the second.  He was here to present the Aggie Men’s Basketball team their award for winning the conference this season.  He was happy to be here to do it and very complimentary of New Mexico State.  Adam Young (I wonder why he’s not doing the TV for the basketball tonight?) gave some other scores and mentioned that Grand Canyon’s Softball team beat Florida State, the nation’s #1 team. 

PA Alexia reported that it was 61 degrees in Philadelphia and partly cloudy, which was about what it was here in Las Cruces.  She also read the following copy, “Fall is just around the corner . . .” she stopped herself, “Well, kinda.”  Alexia was promoting Aggie Football’s upcoming spring scrimmage.  There was an actual football schedule poster available on the courtesy table.  (I’m finally explaining that strange image at the top of this baseball post.)  The Aggies will be playing Alabama (that’s going to be a loss) and Las Cruces High School next season (that might be win).  Oh wait, that bulldog logo isn’t for LCHS, it’s for Fresno State.  That game might be another certain loss.

[Actually, I’m willing to bet there are quite a few reasonably well-off Aggie fans who would love to see a Crimson Tide game in Tuscaloosa.  It’ll be expensive, but you’ll at least be able to get a ticket, since there will be a section set aside for the opposing team, the Aggies.  Even better, you’d be wearing crimson there, so you’d blend in and might not get laughed at.  This is a genuine good opportunity if you’re a big college football fan.]

Nick Gonzales walked to start the Aggie third.  Explorers’ pitcher Jackson Ray rushed a throw on a fielder’s choice to try to get the lead runner at second and Nick made it to third on the overthrow.  The Aggies loaded the bases with no one out.  Sorrels made a great jump catch on a liner to start a double play.  Nick was cashed in on a single by Tristan Peterson, so they came away with something.  2-0 Aggies.

In the fourth, there was an Easton Corbin concert ticket giveaway.  Hey Emerson, I want those tickets if you’ll go with me!  (I didn’t say that out-loud, but I was thinking it.)  Adam gave an MLB spring training update.  Former Aggie standout, Tyler Erwin, was pitching for the Orioles.  Dehn cruised through another inning.  Nick was eating it up at second.  He was making play-after-play.  He outdid himself this inning with a great running catch and throw. 

In the bottom of the fourth, this time Ray made the play on a comebacker to get the lead runner at second.  Nick O’Day, in center for the Explorers, made the play of the day sliding to get a Nick Gonzales’ liner.  Even Aggie fans applauded him.  In the top of the fifth, Dehn finally ran out of gas and gave up a leadoff single.  He’d gotten 11-straight outs and faced the minimum through four.  Two walks loaded the bases and a fielder’s choice brought in a La Salle run.  2-1 Aggies.  After another walk reloaded the bases, Wyatt Kelly came in.  He put out the fire with a popout and a strikeout.           

Sorrels made another good play at second to start the bottom of the fifth.  However, the Aggies managed to load the bases again.  Kevin McGowan made a good stop at third for the second out, but Braden Williams, up next, brought in a run on a fielder’s choice to make it 3-1.  Ray was finally chased from the game after 112 pitches.  Wyatt worked an impressive sixth with two strikeouts looking. 

 

For the seventh, Nick and Joey both made great plays on grounders with Henderson stretching to get the third out.  Eric Mingus got the perfect bunt down in the bottom.  As it slowly rolled down the line, there was no chance of making a play on it, so the third baseman just stood over it and watched it, hoping it would go out.  The ump joined him as the ball stopped on the line and the ump ruled it fair.  The Aggies loaded the bases (for the fourth time?), but again didn’t score.

There was a happy announcement to start the fourth.  The Aggie Women’s Basketball team beat CBU on the road . . . like a red-head step child, 92-64!  Brooke Salas was solid with 22 points and 14 rebounds.  Aaliyah Prince, Gia Pack, and Stabresa McDainel also scored in double figures.  Gia came close to another triple double.

Andrew Edwards worked a good, quick eighth.  Carranza and Caleb Henderson hit back-to-back homers next to the scoreboard in left center to tack on two more runs.  Though no longer a save situation, closer Mitchell Allen came in.  He gave up a couple of hits, but finished it off.

Aggies win 6-1!  That game was closer than the score would indicate.  Here’s your stat of the game: 14.  That’s the number of Aggie runners left on base.  It could have been worse for the Explorers.  Going 5 for 5, nobody had a better day hitting than Logan Bottrell.  Justin Dehn had four great innings, but Wyatt Kelly was nails shutting down La Salle, along with some good defense.  Let’s also hear it for their starter, Jackson Ray.  The Aggies kept threatening, but couldn’t land that knockout blow early.  He kept it close.

Even better, the game finished in a just a bit more than three hours, so Ron and I didn’t have to wait too long to go get dinner during the intermission.  On to Game 2.