Aggies edge Lobos to earn series sweep

NMSU completes firstever season three-game sweep of rival UNM

The formula did not require fixing. New Mexico State didn’t change it.

The Aggies completed their first-ever baseball season sweep (of more than two games) over rival UNM on Tuesday night, thanks in large part to pitcher Justin Dehn. The junior right-hander worked six strong innings and helped NMSU pull out a 4-3 victory at Santa Ana Star Field.

It was Dehn’s third win over the Lobos in as many tries this season.

“We knew we had a chance to get all three against these guys,” Dehn said. “We were pretty excited about that, but we knew this one wouldn’t be easy and it wasn’t. This was a battle.”

Unlike the first two games in

this season’s Rio Grande Rivalry — one-sided wins for the Aggies (33-16) — Tuesday’s contest came down to the final pitch. UNM (16-31-1) scored a run in the ninth and had the potential tying run at second base with two outs.

NMSU reliever Brock Whittlesey then struck out UNM’s Jeff Deimling to end it. Dehn (5-3) got the win, and Whittlesey earned his eighth save.

“This was a big deal for our program,” Aggies coach Brian Green said. “We expected a game like this tonight and it was ultra-competitive. We’re trying to win a (Western Athletic Conference) title and a win like this can only help us.”

While the red-hot Aggies stuck to their winning formula, the bangedup Lobos employed their 46th different lineup in 48 games. The latest one featured eight freshmen, including starting pitcher Robert Gasser.

Gasser and relievers Malachi Emond and Christian Tripp were plenty good enough to keep Tuesday’s game close. The trio kept one of the nation’s top-hitting clubs in check for most of the night, allowing nine combined hits with five strikeouts.

But Dehn and four Aggies relievers were just a bit better, also allowing nine combined hits and striking out 10.

Connor Mang, who went 3-for-4, scored twice on hits by Deimling for the Lobos.

Trey Stine’s solo home run into the prevailing wind toward right field gave NMSU a 3-2 lead in the fifth, and the Aggies added a gift insurance run in the seventh. Logan Ehnes was hit by a pitch with two outs, stole second base and later scored when Tristen Carranza’s infield chopper was deflected into left field for an RBI hit.

Mason Fishback went 3-for-4 for NMSU, which won its fourth straight game overall.