OREM, Utah – New Mexico State jumped out to an early lead and tacked on a number of runs late to clinch the series over Utah Valley with a 17-6 victory on Friday night at UCCU Ballpark. 
 
With the loss, UVU (17-37, 9-20 WAC) is eliminated from WAC Tournament contention as NM State (20-31, 10-19 WAC) locked up the final spot with the win. The Wolverines will look to salvage the series in the 2022 season finale with Senior Day on Saturday at 12:05 p.m.
 
The Aggies got off to a quick start with four first inning runs along with a run in the second to take an early 5-0 lead. Edwin Martinez Pagani had the big hit in the first with a bases-clearing double and Gunner Antillon drove in a run in the second with an RBI single. 
 
Olsen got a run back for UVU in the bottom second with a no-doubt leadoff solo bomb to center for his team-leading ninth homer of the year to make it a 5-1 game. With NMSU leading 6-1 in the third, Garrett Broussard reached by getting hit by a pitch and the senior Moralez immediately belted out a two-run home run to left-center to cut the deficit in half at 6-3.
 
UVU threatened in the fifth by getting two runners aboard with two away, but NM State reliever Noah Estrella came on and managed to escape the jam to keep it a 6-3 game. 
 
Preston Godfrey then led off the sixth with a solo home run for the Aggies and NMSU would go on to score five more runs in the frame to take a 12-3 advantage. Cal Villareal capped the big inning for NM State with a two-run single. 
 
The Wolverines again got two runners on base in the last of the sixth with two away and Kyle Coburn drove home Paul Vossen with an RBI infield hit, and later with the bases loaded, Moralez plated two more with a clutch two-run single up the middle to pull the Wolverines within 12-6. With the bases again loaded, Mick Madsen lined a ball hard to left but NMSU's Villareal was there to make the play and end the inning.
 
The Aggies then secured the victory with a five-run seventh to go on to win via the run-rule. Kevin Jimenez, Martinez Pagani, and Tommy Tabak all drove in runs for NMSU in the frame. 
 
UVU starter Coop Rust was tagged with the loss to drop to 2-8 on the year, while NM State starter Sammy Natera picked up the win to improve to 2-1. Luke McCollough, Nick Sims, and senior Bobby Voortmeyer all saw action out of the pen on the night for the Wolverines. 
 
Despite the loss, the senior Moralez had another strong game from the plate for the Wolverines by going 2-for-4 with a home run and four RBIs, while Trey Cutchen went 2-for-3 with a walk and Broussard went a perfect 1-for-1 with an RBI, a run scored, and a walk. Olsen also finished with a 1-for-4 showing with a home run. Villareal led the Aggies by going 3-for-4 with a homer, a walk, and four RBIs.  
 
The Wolverines will close their 2022 season on Saturday at 12:05 p.m. The day will mark Senior Day for Utah Valley, as five Wolverine seniors will be honored after the game in Moralez, Voortmeyer, Drew Sims, Blake Zeleny, and Logan Petet.