MESA, Ariz. -- The top-seeded New Mexico State baseball team was eliminated from the Western Athletic Conference tournament Friday with a 15-12 loss to Louisiana Tech at Hohokam Stadium.
The Aggies (35-22) now must wait to learn whether they'll earn an at-large bid into the NCAA tournament; the field will be selected Monday.
"We think we'll get a regional bid, but you just don't know," NMSU head coach Rocky Ward said. "Our numbers are good enough, our overall record and body of work."
The Aggies posted 12 runs on 15 hits but committed two errors as Louisiana Tech crossed the plate 15 times on 16 hits. Sophomore Tanner Rust did what he could for NMSU, finishing 2 for 3 with a home run, two walks and two RBIs. The homer was a two-run shot to right-center that traveled at least 415 feet. Senior Tanner Waite also had a strong day at the plate, going 3 for 5 with a team-best four RBIs.
The Aggies went into the ninth inning down nine runs but got the tying run to the plate before junior Zac Fisher grounded out to first to end the game. NMSU has lost eight straight WAC tournament games.
Starting pitcher Adam Mott (6-3) took the loss, working just 4 1/3 innings and giving up eight runs, six of them earned. The Aggies used six pitchers after having used nine the night before.
Louisiana Tech scored the first two runs in the bottom of the first, but NMSU tied it with two runs in the second. The Aggies took their only lead of the game when Rust hit his two-run shot in the top of the third. The Bulldogs responded with three runs in the bottom of the third to go up 5-4, and they extended their lead 8-4 in the bottom of the fifth.
NMSU fought in the ninth, scoring six runs on five hits while batting around to make things interesting, but sixth-seeded Louisiana Tech held on to advance.
"We booted the ball around again and gave away a couple of free runs,
which hurt us," Ward said. "At 8-4, we were in the game, but it's not
good when our closer gives up five runs, although I am pleased that once
again our guys fought back as we brought the tying run to the plate in
the ninth."
