Box Score

LAS CRUCES, N.M. – Houston Baptist junior third baseman Robbie Buller went 2-for-5 with a home run as part of the Huskies' 10-hit attack, which wasn't enough in a 9-6 loss to New Mexico State in the season opener Friday at Presley Askew Field.

Junior centerfielder Luke Clements went 3-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored in his first game as a Husky, while sophomore leftfielder Jake Gonzalez also homered for HBU (0-1).

Shortstop Ryan Aguayo went 4-for-5 with a double, an RBI and a run to lead New Mexico State (1-0) offensively. Second baseman Parker Hipp went 2-for-3 with a triple, three RBIs and two runs, while centerfielder Wesley Starkes went 3-for-5 with a double, a stolen base and three runs for the Aggies. Rightfielder Bryan Karraker also added a pair of hits and a stolen base.

Dan Reid (1-0) picked up the victory for New Mexico State, allowing four runs, two earned, on seven hits and struck out five in six innings. Junior righthander Dalton Schafer (0-1) took the loss for the Huskies, giving up seven runs, six earned, on 10 hits and struck out four in 5.1 innings. Senior Stephen Nikonchik tossed the final 2.2 innings for HBU, allowing a pair of runs, one earned, on three hits.

The Huskies got the season off to a good start as Clements led off with a single and scored on junior shortstop Collin Hetzler's single to right field and an error on the play by Karraker. The Aggies answered in the bottom of the frame as Hipp drew a two-out walk and later scored on Aguayo's infield single.

New Mexico State added two in the bottom of the second on RBI singles by Starkes and third baseman Zachary Voight. HBU scored single runs in the third and fourth innings. In the third, Buller singled and scored on senior designated hitter Beau Warren's fielder's choice and in the fourth when freshman second baseman Garrett Tully led off with a single and scored on a Clements single to left. The Aggies answered back with a run of their own in each of those frames, as Aguayo doubled and scored on a wild pitch in the third and Starkes doubled and scored on a throwing error in the fourth.

The Huskies cut the Aggies' lead to 6-4 in the sixth when junior catcher Asai Adame reached on a fielder's choice and scored on an error, but New Mexico State tacked on two more in the bottom of the inning on Hipp's two-run triple to center.

Gonzalez hit a one-out solo homer to left for HBU in the eighth, but Hipp and Karraker added RBI singles for New Mexico State in the bottom of the eighth. Buller led off the ninth with a home run and senior first baseman Chase Hernandez followed with a single, but the Huskies were unable to mount a rally.