It’s another dual-weekend with Aggie Baseball and Softball playing at the same time. I hate this scheduling. This is Softball’s final home series and Baseball’s next to last. Friday night, the ladies beat Middle Tennessee, 5-4, on a walk off home run by Riley Carley. The guys had a Tuesday game in Albuquerque and were swept by the Lobos for the season with a 7-6 loss. Friday, Aggie Baseball jumped out to a 4-0 lead on the Blue Raiders with Saul Soto starting. They’d go on to win, 6-1.
Also on Friday, dad called me with some exciting news: the Arizona Diamondbacks would be playing on a local TV channel for the summer. I sort of wondering if this might happen, since they’d picked up showing Dallas Mavericks games over the winter and the NBA’s regular season is done. I don’t know how many games they’ll be showing, but I printed out a schedule for them. Unfortunately, they didn’t pick up tonight’s game. I’ll keep a lookout for future games.
I thought I’d be spending Saturday afternoon over at the university, as Aggie Soccer had advertised an “Alumni Game” before today’s baseball game would start. I wasn’t sure if the timing would work out so that I could see the end of the soccer game. However on Friday night, Soccer’s Twitter had taken down the post. I assume that meant it was canceled, so I hung out at home until I left early to get lunch before the baseball game. I admit, since the Soccer girls were going to be playing at a different venue while their field is getting redone, I was looking forward to seeing them there in a more intimate setting.
Lunch at Chik-fil-a was great. I thanked a worker there for the meal when I when for a refill, “It was great as usual.” He said, “I don’t know they do it, but it’s always great.” There was an okay crowd of 431 at the stadium. The Blue Raiders did bring some fans and they were smartly up in the shade by the press box. It was clear, hot, and sunny out.
I was sitting by Fan Michael, Ken, and Trey. We were all chatting a bunch during the game. It was fun, though I wasn’t doing much note taking for the game. Trey reported that his son, Cooper Reese, was injured last time. Now Cooper’s season is over with foot surgery. They’re still not quite sure what happened to him, as both of his feet have problems. He was on crutches now. Trey’s wife and daughter were getting ready for a Country music concert this evening.
It was Military Appreciation Day at the park. Steve Solorzano’s father, a long time veteran, threw out the first pitch to his son (a strike). An honor guard of firemen came out for the Anthem. One of them sang a tremendous rendition, unfortunately a couple of babies joined in crying, but it didn’t spoil it. Matt Wolfe was chosen as the opposing player to activate the $1 hot dog deal. “We’re coming for you, Wolfe!” shouted a fan from the stands.
Connor Wylde started for the Aggies and had a quick 1-2-3 first, including two flyball outs. Chandler Alderman took the ball and the bump for the Blue Raiders. He worked into some trouble with two on and nobody out, but a double play got him out of the inning.
Connor had another in order inning with two more flyouts in the second. Again, two Aggies got on in the bottom with nobody out. Dane Woodcook drove in the runner from third on a safety squeeze to give the Aggies a 1-0 lead.
Wylde got hit on a comebacker on the first batter of the third. He was okay, but the runner got on and the next batter singled. Wylde got out of it with a DP and a great play on a foul ball by Bryce Campbell at first. The Aggies got the leadoff batter on via a bunt single. Alderman hit Brandon Forrester as he ran to first. There was no error charged on the play for some reason. A nice heads-up play on a bunt by Brett Vondohlen at third turned a DP to kill the rally.
I noticed Madi Gewirtz from the Women’s Basketball team come in. Tall and beautiful, she makes an entrance. I think she was sitting with teammate, Emma Dasovich. I told Trey about how Madi make the team and tried to see if I could set her up with Cooper, but he’s apparently already going out with a basketball player (not from here, I’m guessing). So much for matchmaking.
Wylde had a nice three-batter, all-flyball-out inning for the fourth. In the bottom, a two-base error brought Boston Vest into scoring position. A single by Gianni Horvat brought him in, though Boston did run straight through a stop sign by the third base coach. Austin Corbett singled next and Woodcook sac’d them over into scoring position. Yeah, they were in scoring position alright. Joey Craig bashed a three-run homer to center to bring them in. Right after that home run, a big cheer went up next door and presumably one of the ladies also hit one.
Forrester singled next, which chased Alderman from the game. He was relieved by Ethan Imbimbo. I-M-Bimbo? This kid must have grown up with some thick skin. Forrester made it to third on a bad throw by the catcher on Forrester’s steal attempt. Solorzano drove him in with a double off the batter’s eye in center. Mitch Namie in turn drove Solo in, as the Aggies batted around. It was 7-0 Aggies when the dust cleared.
A little boy walked by holding a can of beer. It was a pretty amusing sight. He was delivering the can to the trash, but I’d still cut him off. I doubt the four year-old could handle another. Wylde gave up a single to start the fifth, but helped his own cause by starting a double play on a comebacker. Another single advanced to second on a bad throw from the outfield, but no damage was done. The Aggies went down in order in the bottom.
There seemed to be another home run over at Softball. Wylde still had a pretty low pitch count and came back out for the sixth. He started off with a strikeout and another flyball out. The Blue Raiders made a two-out rally with a walk and a single. Craig dove for the single in center, but missed it. A grounder to second ended the frame. Forrester singled in the bottom of the sixth, but was thrown out this time attempting to steal.
Wylde had a strong top of the seventh with two strikeouts, one looking. Horvat also made a good play at second (which I didn’t write down). There were two quick outs in the bottom. It was a little dangerous as a foul ball flew over our heads into the stands. Trey, of course, wasn’t there to protect us. I almost fell off the step where I was standing watching the ball. A pair of singles put two on. Woodcook drove them in with a triple that hit the right field line. Who says catchers can’t run? (Oh, wait. That was me.)
The Aggies were now one run away from a run rule win with a runner on third with two outs. The Blue Raiders brought in a new pitcher to face Craig. Trey correctly predicted that Jonny Stevens would spike his first pitch, which happened, but Woodcook wasn’t able to come in on it. Trey also saw that Craig was vulnerable to low and outside pitches and was about to strikeout, which he did. However, the last pitch was spiked and this one did get away from the catcher. Woodcook came in and the Aggies score a run rule 10-0 win! It was a strikeout walk off. I’ve now seen everything (until the next game).
Well that was efficient at just over two hours. It may have finished before Softball. Blue Raider catcher Tyler Minnick was inconsolable sitting on his knees behind the plate. As the Aggies celebrated on field, Forrester handed him his mask and patted him on the back.
I feel kind of bad about these Gameballs, because it’s going to be all Aggies. It wasn’t Middle Tennessee’s day. Connor Wylde got lots of flyballs today, which worked with only a light breeze blowing. He had a 7-inning, complete game shutout. Brandon Forrester went 4 for 4 and gets the Good Sportsmanship award. Gianni Horvat went 3 for 4 with an RBI. Joey Craig had the big blow with that 3-run homer. Dane Woodcook had two successful sacrifices and a triple for 3 RBI’s.
There were still people over in the stands at Softball. I started walking over there, but soon realized they were only doing a Senior Day Ceremony. I found out later, the Aggies had beaten Middle Tennessee again, 5-2, with a late three-run homer by senior Kristiana Watson.
The Pan-Am Center parking lot was filling up for the concert as I was leaving the university. Maybe the ballplayers finished quick so they could go, too. When I came in, NMSU graduates were getting their picture taken at the entry sign and it was still going on as I left. The forecast isn’t good for tomorrow, but we’ll see what happens.
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