LAS CRUCES, N.M. – Houston Baptist scored six runs in the eighth and two more in the ninth, but New Mexico State held on for a 13-11 victory in non-conference baseball Saturday at Presley Askew Field.

HBU freshman third baseman Tanner Kalina went 2-for-5 with a double and four RBIs, while junior catcher Corey Hail went 2-for-5 with two RBIs. Sophomore leftfielder Jake Gonzalez doubled and drove in a pair for the Huskies (0-2).

Wesley Starkes went 4-for-5 with a home run and two runs scored to pace the Aggies (2-0) offensively, while Parker Hipp went 3-for-4 with a pair of doubles, RBIs and runs scored. Bryan Karraker was 3-for-5 at the plate, with a home run, two RBIs and three runs scored, and Zachary Voight and Kurt Snowley had a pair of hits each.

Tyler Mack (1-0) earned the win for New Mexico State, allowing three runs on four hits in five innings. Senior righthander Chase Hernandez (0-1) took the loss for HBU, giving up 10 runs, seven earned, on 12 hits in four innings. Freshman Kyle Dickerson allowed three runs in two innings, while sophomore Scott Moore held the Aggies to just one hit and struck out three over the final two innings.

The Aggies jumped out to a big lead early, scoring seven runs in the bottom of the first. Starkes led off the innings with a homer, and Voight followed with a single to left, stole second and scored on Hipp's single to center. Ryan Laing reached on an error, Ryan Aguayo reached on catcher's interference then Zac Fisher cleared the bases with a three-run double to left-center. Karraker then blasted a two-run homer to cap the inning.

The Huskies answered back with three in the top of the second as junior rightfielder Kolby Arnst drew a one-out walk and scored on Kalina's double to left-center. Hail's RBI single plated Kalina, and Hail scored on freshman second baseman Garrett Tully's RBI double.

New Mexico State scored one in the third, two in the fourth, one in the fifth and two in the sixth to take a commanding 13-3 lead, when HBU exploded for six run in the eighth. Junior shortstop Collin Hetzler, junior first baseman Robbie Buller and Hernandez drew consecutive walks to load the bases to lead off the inning and junior outfielder J.P. Seipel pinch hit and was hit by a pitch to plate a run. Gonzalez ripped a two-run double to left, Hail added an RBI single and junior centerfielder Luke Clements had a sacrifice fly to cut the lead to 13-9.

Buller led off the ninth with a single to left-center, Seipel walked and Kalina reached on a two-out error to plate both runners, but Hail grounded out to end the game.

The Huskies committed four errors, which led to three unearned runs, and proved to be the difference in the game.

The series concludes Sunday with the first pitch scheduled for 3:05 p.m. CST. Live audio for the game is available on HBUHuskies.com.