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CBU Athletics

California Baptist University
Andrew Shortall
6
California Baptist CBU 34-20, 18-8 WAC
18
Winner New Mexico State NMSU 37-14, 19-7 WAC
California Baptist CBU
34-20, 18-8 WAC
6
Final
18
New Mexico State NMSU
37-14, 19-7 WAC
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
California Baptist CBU 2 0 1 0 0 3 0 6 7 1
New Mexico State NMSU 3 0 9 0 4 2 X 18 14 0

W: Dehn, Justin (9-3) L: Burica, Chris (5-2)

Game Recap: Baseball | | Andrew Shortall, Director of Athletics Communications

WAC Title Hopes Remain Alive

LAS CRUCES, N.M. – Ryan Mota continued his historic power surge this season, with his 18th home run of the season in California Baptist University's second game at New Mexico State on Friday.

Mota already owned a new single-season record for home runs in the NCAA era, and now ranks fifth in the all-time record book. He is the first Lancer to hit at least 18 home runs since 2007. NM State showcased its powerful offense, as well, on Friday and won the game 18-6 at Presley Askew Field.
 
It puts the Aggies back in first place in the Western Athletic Conference standings at 37-14, 19-7 in conference. The Lancers are now 34-20, 18-8 going into Saturday's series and season finale Saturday at 10 a.m. PDT.

NM State moves back into first place in the WAC standings with the victory. Grand Canyon could join them with a win over Sacramento State. The Lopes loss Friday afternoon secured the Aggies at least a share of its second regular-season WAC title. CBU will look to lock up a share of the WAC title itself with a win Saturday. 

The Aggies last won the WAC regular-season title in 2012, but are the reigning WAC Tournament champions and were one of the favorites to win the crown again this year. NMSU is also currently receiving votes in the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association's Top-30 rankings, and has the best offense in the WAC, if not the country. The Aggies entered the week leading all of Division I with a team .363 batting average, 635 hits, .477 on-base percentage and .594 slugging percentage.

John Glenn collected a team-high two hits in the game with a run batted in and run scored. Along with Mota, Andrew Bash, Billy Rockefeller, Rory Smith and Angelo Capolupo all had base hits in the game, as well.

For the second game in a row, CBU's offense started out hot on Friday. Luke Navigato was hit by a pitch to lead off the game, and two batters later Mota crushed his homer to dead center field to give the Lancers a 2-0 lead.

 
NM State took its first advantage with a three-run homer in the bottom of the first inning. Glenn tied the game at 3-3 with a two-out, 1-2 double in the third inning. Capolupo led off the inning with a single before scoring on Glenn's hit.
 
The Aggies turned around and scored nine runs on six hits and an error in the bottom of the third to take a commanding 12-3 lead, and then scored four times in the fifth to make it 16-3.

There was no quit from the Lancers, who scored three runs after loading the bases with no outs in the top of the sixth. Glenn and Bash opened the inning with singles and then Nick Plaia was hit by a pitch to load the bases.

Rockefeller scored one with a smash single into right field and a full-count walk to Rory Smith added another run. A double-play grounder scored CBU's third run of the inning to make it 16-6. The Aggies added two more runs in the bottom of the sixth to cap the scoring at 18-6.
 

 
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