PARRY'S HEROICS LIFT JACKRABBITS TO FIRST WIN

Sunday, February 18

Las Cruces, N.M.

2 p.m. MT/3 p.m. CT

South Dakota State University

1-2

New Mexico State

2-1

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
South Dakota State	1	0	0	1	0	0	1	0	5	8	7	1
NM State	2	0	0	1	0	0	0	2	0	5	1	1

Photo by: Dave Eggen/Inertia

2/18/2024 8:00:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

LAS CRUCES, N.M. — Dawson Parry capped a five-run top of the ninth inning with a grand slam, lifting South Dakota State to an 8-5 victory over New Mexico State Sunday afternoon at Presley Askew Field.

The Jackrabbits picked up their first win of the season, improving to 1-2 on the season. NMSU dropped to 2-1.

All four runs to score on Parry's grand slam were unearned as an Aggie error opened the door for the Jackrabbit rally to continue. Trailing 5-3, freshman Bryce Ronken singled with one out and moved to second base on a single by Jess Bellows. Davis Carr then stepped to the plate and hit a ground ball to second base. The ensuing throw to second base for a force out and potential game-ending double play was off the mark, allowing the Jackrabbits to load the bases.

A walk issued to another freshman, Cohen Henry, forced in a run to make the score 5-4. After a strikeout for the second out of the inning, Parry stepped to the plate and drove the first pitch he saw well over the fence in left-center field for his second home run of the game and third of the season.

Parry opened the scoring with a solo homer in the bottom of the first and Cael Frost drew the Jackrabbits even at 2-all with a solo shot in the fourth. SDSU tied the game at 3-all in the seventh on a run-scoring double by Jess Bellows that plated Luke Luskey.

Four Jackrabbit pitchers combined to allow only one hit, but the Aggies capitalized in other ways at the plate to put five runs on the board. A Jackrabbit throwing error after a pair of walks allowed the Aggies to score twice in the bottom of the first inning.

Nick Gore tallied New Mexico State's lone hit, an RBI single in the home half of the fourth that plated Steve Solorzano, who led off the inning being hit by a pitch.

NMSU grabbed a 5-3 lead in the bottom of the eighth after Jackrabbit closer Alex Clemons issued five walks and a wild pitch. However, Clemons, pitched a scoreless bottom of the ninth to finish off the comeback victory.

Will Kent worked the first 3 2/3 innings, striking out a career-high six and walking four. Sam Schlecht pitched the next 1 1/3 innings and Owen Bishop followed with two scoreless innings.

Parry, Frost and Bellows each collected two of the Jackrabbits' seven hits.

Aggie starter Hayden Walker struck out nine and walked one over the first six frames. Hayden Lewis, who earned the save in Friday's season opener, took the loss.

UP NEXT
The finale of the four-game series is slated for 4 p.m. Mountain Time (5 p.m. Central) on Monday.

NOTES

NMSU leads the all-time series, 2-1
Parry hit two home runs in the same game for the second time in his Jackrabbit career (May 14, 2022, vs. St. Thomas)
Parry's grand slam was his third as a Jackrabbit and also his 23^rd career home run
Bellows has now hit safely in 12 consecutive games dating back to last season and has reached base safely in 22 straight contests
Bellows stole two bases to set a career high
Bishop made his first pitching appearance since May 27, 2022

-GoJacks.com-