HOBBS, NM - Panhandle State baseball (2-4) split with the University of the Southwest Mustangs (5-2) on the first day of their two-day series. The Aggies come into this four-game series after splitting the series two games each in the 2021 season. 

Jake Williams Field served as a launching pad for both offenses on the day. Both teams combined for thirty-four hits in game one. While the field still played small in game two of the doubleheader, it was far more favored by the Mustangs than that of the Aggies. As Panhandle State was outhit eighteen to two in the second game. 

The Aggies saw production through the lineup from top to bottom. Finishing the first game with more extra-base hits than singles. A key part of the Aggies' success in game one was getting hits to lead off the inning and capitalizing on runners in scoring position. Totaling ten RBIs in game one.   The Aggies scored in all but two innings in the seven-inning contest. With every Aggie starting reaching base and eight of the nine starters recording a hit, the Aggies looked to carry the momentum over to game two of the doubleheader.

If Murphy's law could define anything it would be the second game of the day for the Aggies. Starting pitcher Colton Anderson only made it through one and a third-inning before making way for the bullpen after surrendering eight runs on eight hits. The Aggie bullpen would go on to give up another ten runs on ten hits. The offense was not any better. The Aggie hitters had nearly four times as many strikeouts as they did hits. The Mustangs had a perfect game going into the fifth inning until Jonathan Applebury broke it up with a double. A measurable difference between the two games of the day leaves the Aggies hoping for a much improved day two performance. 

Game 1

The Aggies wasted no time getting on the board. Something that they've become accustomed to early on in this 2022 season. Freshman Hunter Hutchinson has earned his keep as a starter for the Aggies. Launching a leadoff triple to get the Aggies started against the Mustangs. Being scored two batters later off a sacrifice fly from Ethan Hunt. 

Hutchinson and Hunt would not be the only contributors early for the Aggies. As seniors, Lane Field and Jonathan Applebury would also make noise in the first inning. Field would laser a single to the center fielder followed by a two-run home run from Applebury to put the Aggies up 3-0. 

Senior RHP Austin Jacobs would follow a loud Aggie inning with his second start for the Aggies. In the Aggies' 2021 season Jacobs got a win and a save against the Mustangs at home throwing a total of three and two-thirds innings only surrendering four hits while striking out two. In-game one of the double-header, Jacobs worked himself into some tough situations for the Aggies. However, he managed to reduce the damage in every one of them, going for five and two-thirds innings. Allowing only four earned runs on eleven hits and five strikeouts. 

Tate Nebhut would be first out of the pen for the Aggies, making his third appearance of the season. Finishing the game for the Aggies with one and a third innings pitched. Things got a little shaky for the Aggies as Nebhut was knocked around for five hits and three runs but Nebhut was able to withstand the Mustangs late charge.

The Aggie offense kept their foot on the gas for all seven innings against the Mustangs. As every inning saw at least one Aggie on the base paths and all but one of those innings saw two. A key contributor in the Aggies pressuring the Mustang pitchers to compete on the mound. Six Aggies had multi-hit games and three had multi-RBI games. 

Hunter Hutchinson has been a dominant force for the Aggies so far this season. Hutchinson would see a five for five day in game one with two triples. He would also scratch across a single run and two RBIs as well. An outstanding freshman performance coupled with a few superb senior performances propelled the Aggies past the Mustangs.

Game 2

With the momentum on their side going into the second game of the day, the Aggies started sophomore LHP Colton Anderson. Who, in his last outing against The Master's University, would go for five and two-thirds innings giving up only four hits, three walks, and two earned runs. Anderson would also get the win. Despite that Anderson would only see one and a third innings of work in game two as the Mustangs seemed to have figured him out early. Getting across five runs in the first inning off of Anderson. 

The Aggies would look to the bullpen early as Corbin Yandell would enter the game as Anderson exited. Yandell would not fare much better than Anderson as he only managed two-thirds of an inning. Allowing four earned runs on three hits. The final pitcher for the Aggies would be Jostynn Mieses. Mieses' problems with location allowed the Mustangs another six earned runs.

Pitching is only one side of the coin for all that went wrong in game two. As the Aggie hitters looked stymied at the plate after exploding in game one. Having a perfect game thrown against them into the fifth sure didn't help the Aggies' cause. However, the Aggies would erase said superlative in the top of the fifth off the bat of senior Applebury. Applebury would be brought around to score by Luis Dermas as he laces a triple to right field.  The Aggies would not get within ten runs in the top frame and were run-ruled. The Mustangs bounced back to win game two 18-4.

The Aggies look to win the series against the University of the Southwest tomorrow, February 12th starting at noon MST.