LAS CRUCES, N.M. – Utah Valley University chipped away at an early deficit but couldn't quiet the New Mexico State bats in a 17-7 loss on Sunday afternoon at Presley Askew Field. The game ended via the 10-run rule in the seventh as Nick Gonzales capped a six-run inning with a walk-off grand slam. 
 
The loss for the Wolverines (14-31, 5-13) gave the Aggies (32-16, 15-6) the three-game series sweep.
 
The teams combined to hit five home runs on the day with NM State's Joey Ortiz hitting a pair of three-run homers. Ortiz finished 3-for-3 with seven RBIs while Utah Valley's David Modler hit a solo home run and Callahan Moltzan hit his first round-tripper of the season, a three-run shot that came during a five-run fourth for UVU.
 
The Wolverines trailed 8-2 after three innings before getting within a run, 8-7, following the five-run inning.
 
The Aggies scored four runs each in both the second and third innings. In the second NM State took advantage of three walks and a hit batter to score its four runs on just two hits. After an RBI groundout brought home the first run, Logan Bottrell walked with the bases full to force in another run before Trey Stine – who had three RBIs on the day -- singled home two more for a 4-0 New Mexico State lead.
 
The Wolverines got two back in the third when Michael Beltran singled and Trevor Peterson doubled with one out. Ryan Eastburn drove both runners in with a two-out single up the middle to cut the deficit in half.
 
In the bottom of the third, the bases were loaded with nobody out before a walk forced in another run. Reliever Jake Carr got a 5-2-3 double play off the bat of David Bellamy to put two outs on the board, but Ortiz delivered a blow with a three-run home run to left, giving the Aggies an 8-2 lead.
 
Modler led off the inning with a solo home run to left center before Paul Estrada singled and Drew Sims was hit by a pitch to put two on for Moltzan. Moltzan made it a four straight Wolverines to reach base with his three-run home run to right, making it 8-6. Later in the inning, Jackson Overlund had a two-out RBI single to score Peterson from second and get the Wolverines within a run, 8-7.
 
Gonzales' grand slam was his third home run of the series and capped a day that saw New Mexico State score 10 of its 17 runs via the long ball. For UVU, five players had two-hit days including Moltzan and Eastburn, who combined to drive in five of the seven runs.
 
Matthew Perea (2-2) got the win with 2.2 innings of scoreless relief while Kaden Schmitt (3-5) took the loss for the Wolverines.
 
Utah Valley returns to UCCU Ballpark for their final homestand with a three-game series against Seattle U beginning Friday night at 6 p.m. MT. Saturday will be Senior Night at the ballpark and also begin at 6 p.m. MT with Sunday's series finale at noon MT. The final home game will be next Tuesday, May 15 against the University of Utah.