The No. 24 University of Arizona baseball team (31-13, 13-8 in Big 12) defeated New Mexico State University (22-23, 10-8 CUSA) 6-2 on Tuesday, April 29, at 6 p.m. at Hi Corbett Field. The Wildcats bounce back in the win column after losing the series to Texas Tech University, while securing the season sweep over the Aggies.
Arizona had a total of seven hits, with juniors Maddox Mihalakis and Aaron Walton combining for four hits. Junior Mathis Meurant went 2-for-4 and drove in 2 runs, and sophomore Easton Breyfogle went 0-for-3 but had two RBIs on the night.
Sophomore right-handed pitcher Bryce McKnight got the start and pitched two innings, striking out and walking two batters on two hits and an unearned run. Juniors Michael Hilker Jr., Casey Hintz and Garrett Hicks combined to pitch four scoreless innings, punching out six, allowing just two hits and only walking one. Senior Matthew Martinez went one inning with one strikeout but gave up two hits, one walk and an earned run. Senior Eric Orloff and juniors Hunter Alberini and Tony Pluta shut down the Aggies, closing out the game with two scoreless innings, finishing with one strikeout and allowing just one walk and hit.
The Wildcats got on the board first in the bottom of the second inning after redshirt sophomore catcher Tariq Freeny failed to block the passed ball, scoring sophomore Andrew Cain. The Aggies answered in the top of the third inning after a RBI single from sophomore Steve Solorzano. Arizona reclaimed the lead in the home half of the third after an RBI single from Cain, driving home junior Mason White. Breyfogle followed with a sac-fly to left, bringing home Mihalakis to extend the lead to 3-1 through three innings.
In the bottom half of the fifth, Breyfogle reached first on a fielder’s choice, scoring Mihalakis. Meurant followed up with two RBIs double to left center, driving home Breyfogle and senior Tommy Splaine to push the lead to 6-1 at the end of five innings. NMSU would score a run in the seventh, cutting the deficit to four, but the dominant Wildcat pitching limited the damage and led Arizona to victory.
Looking Ahead
The Wildcats will stay home and host TCU for a three-game series, starting on Friday, May 2 at 6 p.m. at Hi Corbett Field. The series will close on Sunday, May 4, at noon.
Follow the Daily Wildcat on Instagram and Twitter/X
