LAS CRUCES, N.M. – Utah Valley University dropped its WAC series opener at New Mexico State, 7-4, on Friday night at Presley Askew Field. The win allowed the WAC co-leading Aggies (21-12, 9-1) to keep pace with Seattle University and win their fourth straight. The Wolverines (18-16) fell to 5-5 in league play.
 
Mark Kruger hit a two-run home run for UVU in the third inning, extending his hitting streak to 17 games. Following the home run, NM State right-hander Matthew McHugh retired 17 of the final 20 batters he faced with the only hit he allowed coming on a pinch-hit double by Paul Estrada with one out in the ninth. Joe Galindo came in and got the final two outs of the game to pick up his fourth save.
 
Patrick Wolfe (1-2) took the loss for Utah Valley. He struck out seven in 5.0 innings of work with but was hurt by a two-out error in the first that allowed three runs to score.
 
Both teams scored early with Utah Valley jumping ahead 1-0 in the top of the first after Trevor Howell doubled to lead off the game and then later scored from third on a wild pitch.
 
After the Aggies scored three times in the bottom of the first, Utah Valley got a run back in the second on a sacrifice fly by Jordan Schlehuber.
 
New Mexico State added two more in the bottom of the second to take a 5-2 lead. Daniel Johnson looked to have a double to left to drive in the first run of the inning but was out on an appeal after he was ruled to have not touched first base.
 
Krueger's home run came in the top of the third and was a no-doubter to right. It also brought home Stone Ramsey and made it a 5-4 contest.
 
The Aggies got one in the fifth on and RBI single by L.J. Hatch and an insurance run in the eighth on a base hit from Dan Hetzel.
 
The series continues on Saturday with a 1 p.m. MT first pitch. Live audio and live stats are available via NMStateSports.com.