May 3, 2003
Las Cruces, N.M. - The New Mexico State Aggies scored nine runs in the bottom of the third inning to break a scoreless tie and went on to down Western Kentucky baseball team 18-7 Saturday night in the finale of a day-night doubleheader.
The loss dropped Western to 7-10 in the Sun Belt and 24-19 overall, while the Aggies, who are ranked 28th in improved to 38-11 and 15-6 overall. The loss for the Hilltoppers marked the first time they had been swept in a three-game series since losing three to Louisiana Tech in 2000. The 18 runs allowed tie the most given up by WKU this season.
The Aggies scored nine runs on eight hits in the third. Alex Borgo led the way with four RBI and two runs scored in the inning off WKU starter Grady Hinchman (So., Anderson, Ind.). He began the inning a solo home run and later hit a three-run double. New Mexico State's Beau Blacken, Dustin Mote, and Hal Bisnett had back-to-back-to-back RBI singles.
Hinchman fell to 5-2 on the season with his second straight rock.
New Mexico State added two more runs in the fourth off five walks to take an 11-0 lead. The Hilltoppers got two runs with two outs in the fifth. Rafael Vallejo (So., The Bronx, N.Y.) tripled to right driving in Brandon Gupton (Fr., Campbellsville, Ky.) who had walked. Vallejo scored on a single by Matt Johnston (Jr., Clarkson, Ky.).
Western cut its deficit to six with three runs off James Allen in the top of the sixth. Brent Miller (So., Muncie, Ind.) began the inning with a single, moved to third on a hit to right by Tim Grogan (Fr., Villa Hills, Ky.) and scored on a single by Travis Brown (Sr., Kankakee, Ill.). Grogan came around to score on a base hit with a single to right. David Lower (Sr., Anderson, Ind.) doubled to center to score Brown.
The Aggies erased Western's hopes of a complete comeback with seven runs in the bottom of the sixth to take an 18-6 lead. The big blow was a three-run homer by Ryan Liermann off Matt Ransdell (Fr., Bowling Green, Ky.).
The Hilltoppers added a pair of runs in the top of the seventh. Miller led off the inning with his third RBI, while Gupton had an RBI single to finish 3-for-3 with a RBI.
Western returns to the field on Tuesday when the Vanderbilt Commodores visit Nick Denes Field at 6 p.m. (CST). The Hilltoppers won the earlier meeting between the two teams 11-4 in Nashville on April 1.
