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La Salle University Athletics

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Toal
9
Winner La Salle LASALLE 7-3
8
New Mexico State NMSU 11-3
Winner
La Salle LASALLE
7-3
9
Final
8
New Mexico State NMSU
11-3
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
La Salle LASALLE 1 1 2 0 3 0 2 0 0 9 9 0
New Mexico State NMSU 3 0 0 2 3 0 0 0 0 8 12 4

W: Janss, Erik (1-1) L: Fernandez, Aldo (0-2) S: Hinchliffe, Connor (5)

Game Recap: Baseball |

Baseball Knocks off New Mexico State in Thrilling 9-8 Win

LAS CRUCES, N.M. - La Salle (7-3) knocked off New Mexico State (RV, 11-3) in comeback fashion on the road Friday night, snapping the Aggies' four-game winning streak and beginning the four-game weekend series with a 9-8 victory. Freshman Tatem Levins homered, senior Kevin McGowan scored four runs and sophomore Tommy Toal hit the go-ahead double in the seventh for the Explorers.

HOW IT HAPPENED
  • La Salle jumped on top quickly behind Ryan Guckin, who sent a deep single to left field to bring home senior Peyton Sorrels for the opening run in the first inning.
  • Nick Gonzales, the national triple crown leader, continued his hot streak for the Aggies with a home run to left in the bottom of the first, however, to put the home team on top heading to the second, 3-1.
  • The Explorers remained hungry and chipped away at the lead in the second off the bat of Quentin Brown as McGowan scored to make it a one-run game.
  • Levins flipped the switch in the top of the third, making his first collegiate hit count with a two-run homer to center field to score McGowan and give the Explorers a 4-3 lead.
  • But the Aggies had an answer once more in the fourth, with Tristan Peterson going yard to left for two runs and a 5-4 advantage for NM State.
  • Down but far from out, the Explorers rallied for three runs in the fifth to jump back ahead. McGowan doubled to right center, allowing Guckin and freshman Nick O'Day to score. Levins then drove in McGowan for his third RBI of the game with a single to right center, putting La Salle up, 7-5.
  • Still in the fifth, Caleb Henderson gave NM State a one-run lead with one swing of the bat on a three-run long ball to left center.
  • Toal came through in a big way in the seventh, hitting a double that the center fielder couldn't get to and scoring McGowan for the fourth time along with Levins, good for a 9-8 lead.
  • The Explorers' bullpen shut down the Aggies after the fifth and senior Connor Hinchliffe entered with two outs in the bottom of the eighth in a four-out save attempt. Hinchliffe didn't allow a single hit as he worked out of the eighth and closed out the ninth with his fifth save of the year and a statement win for the Explorers.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
  • The Explorers held the Aggies, who are receiving votes in the latest NCBWA national poll, to their third lowest run total of the season while handing NM State just their second home loss of the year.
  • It was La Salle's first-ever win over NM State in 13 tries. The game was nearly four hours and 24 minutes long.
  • La Salle relievers Erik Janss (W, 1-1), Colin Scanlon and Hinchliffe (Sv, 5) took over for starter Matt Holt and combined for five innings with no runs, three hits and five strikeouts.
  • McGowan finished the night 3-of-3 with four runs, two RBIs and two walks.
  • Levins drove in three runs, scored twice and walked once, while Guckin was 2-for-5 with a run.
UP NEXT
  • The Explorers and Aggies will play a doubleheader on Saturday, with first pitch set for 3:05 p.m. ET.
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