OREM, Utah – Utah Valley scored a trio of late runs but it wasn't enough, as New Mexico State held on to take the opener of the four-game WAC series, 6-3, on Friday afternoon at UCCU Ballpark. 
 
Trailing 6-2 entering the ninth, UVU (7-37, 5-24 WAC) made things interesting as Jeff Arens and Mick Madsen both reached with one away. Andrew Hacker then reached on a fielder's choice and Arens came in from second on a throwing error to make it 6-3. With Hacker leading from first and two away, Mitch Moralez then flied out to left to end the ballgame. 
 
Despite suffering the loss, Madsen and Kade Poulsen each went 2-for-4 with an RBI apiece to lead the Wolverines. Kevin Jimenez paced the defending WAC champion Aggies (18-25, 15-14 WAC) by going 3-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored. 
 
"We had some opportunities to punch back, but just didn't have enough consistency at the plate to come away with this one," interim head coach David Carter said. "We seemed to throw away some at-bats there in the middle innings when we had a chance, and that's something that we need to correct. Their pitcher (Rorik Maltrud) has a good arm and did a good job, and we just need to do a better job tomorrow (on Saturday)." 
 
Scoreless in the third, the Aggies managed to manufacture a pair of runs to take a 2-0 lead. Following back-to-back singles from Connor Laux and Tommy Tabak, Zerek Saenz drove in Laux with an RBI fielder's choice for the first run of the game. Following a double from Kevin Jimenez, Ethan Mann then drove in the second run with a sacrifice fly.
 
The Wolverines then threatened in the bottom of the frame by getting two on with one out following a double from Moralez and a walk by Garrett Broussard. But NM State starter Rorik Maltrud responded by retiring the next two hitters he faced to escape the jam unscathed. 
 
UVU later capitalized on an Aggie error in the fifth with its first run of the game to make it a 2-1 contest. After Mick Madsen reached on an error, Broussard later singled to right to move Madsen to third with two away. The senior Poulsen then delivered a two-out RBI single up the middle to plate Madsen for UVU's first run of the contest. 
 
NM State then struck back with a trio of runs in the top of the sixth to extend its advantage to 5-1. With two runners aboard and following a sac bunt, Laux started the scoring in the frame with an RBI single to left center. Tabak then followed with an RBI hit to right center and Jimenez capped the scoring in the inning with a sac fly to left. With the bases loaded and NMSU later threatening for more, Cole Yocum came on in relief for the Wolverines and managed to strikeout Cal Villareal looking to limit the damage. 
 
Madsen then got a run back for the Wolverines in seventh with a lead-off solo home run to left to make it 5-2. Madsen belted out a 2-2 pitch to left for his second round-tripper of the season.
 
The Aggies tacked on an insurance run in the eighth, however, to extend their lead to 6-2. 
 
The Wolverines then got a walk from Arens followed by a one-out single to center from Madsen, but NMSU's Ian Mejia managed to preserve the lead and the win for the Aggies to record his first save of the season.
 
NM State starter Maltrud went 6.1 and struck out nine while allowing just six hits and one earned run (two total) to improve to 3-3 on the year. Mejia then came on to pitch the final 2.2 innings of the contest to earn the save. Despite pitching well for the majority of the afternoon, senior starter Jesse Schmit was tagged with the loss in his final collegiate start at UCCU Ballpark to drop to 1-7 on the year. Blake Zeleny had UVU's best relief outing on the day by striking out two and not surrendering a hit or a run over two scoreless frames. 
 
Behind Madsen and Poulsen's two-hit outings, Moralez also posted a two-hit day for the Wolverines by going 2-for-5.
 
The Wolverines and Aggies will continue the weekend set with a Saturday doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. at UCCU Ballpark. The day will mark Senior Day for Utah Valley, as the Wolverines will honor their four seniors in between games of the twin bill at approximately 4 p.m. UVU and NMSU will then close the series in UVU's 2021 home finale on Sunday at noon.