HOBBS, NM - The Panhandle State baseball team faces the University of the Southwest (N.M.) Mustangs for the second straight day for another double-header. The Aggies look to rebound from their 18-4 loss to the Mustangs the day prior.

Head Coach Shawn Joy sees a high ceiling for the team once they bring it all together. "We weren't consistent all weekend. We'd play well for a strecth and then we wouldn't. We made too many mistakes."

Game three between the Aggies and the Mustangs proved to be much more of a pitcher's duel than the previous two. As both teams only mustered ten hits between them in game one. The second game of the day was not much better for the Aggies. A down day at the plate for the Aggies allowed the Mustangs to come away with two-game wins and a series win. 

The Aggies looked to bring a spark into the first game of the day after a disastrous game two on Saturday. It seemed like it would happen as Hunter Hutchinson would lead the game off with a walk and later score off an RBI single from Ethan Hunt. Two Aggies have been instrumental in all the run production the team has seen this year. However, that success would only last so long as the Aggies struggled with strikeouts for the remainder of the game. They were ending the game with more strikeouts than they had hits. A seventh-inning push for the Aggies that notched a single run in the top half of the inning would be too little too late as the Aggies fell in game three. 

The Aggie offense seemed to have hit a roadblock on the second day of their two-day series against USW. Managing only two hits against the Mustangs in the second game of the day and striking out another seven times and leaving four men stranded. 

Game 1

The Aggies scoring first in the game has been a staple for the team throughout the season. However, maintaining the lead throughout the game has been a different story. Just getting runners on base for the Aggies' best hitters to bring them in has been a struggle the last few games. Hutchinson would be walked in the first at-bat of the game and brought around by Hunt. 

After struggling game two, the Aggies looked to see more production from others throughout the lineup. Jhonn Cabrera and Luis Dermas would fit the bill in game three. Cabrera and Dermas combined for four of the Aggies' six hits. 

Freshman RHP Juan Javier (0-1) would start his first career as an Aggie. Javier would struggle with walking batters early on in the game, which would lead to Mustang runs later on. However, despite his struggles finding the zone in the game, Javier could still keep the Aggies within striking distance throughout the game. Javier would throw all six innings for the Aggies, finishing with four strikeouts and allowing only four hits. 

The Aggie offense looked to perform at a higher clip at the plate after their seven strikeout outing in game two. Unfortunately, the hitters did not respond in kind. The Aggie batters would strike out another seven times in the contest. As a result, they were handcuffing all opportunities to score against the Mustangs.

The Aggies mounted a comeback in the top of the seventh as Jonathan Applebury led off the inning with a walk, and shortstop Manrique Mora followed with a single. However, a ground ball double-play and a last strikeout would end as the Aggies railed 2-4.

Game 2

A new Aggie lineup saw the field for the first season in game four against The University of the Southwest Mustangs. Payton Brown, Logan Patterson, and Logan Malleck saw their first starts. However, their involvement was negligible as the team totaled only two hits in the second game. 

Freshman RHP Logan Malleck (0-1) would make his second appearance and first start of the season. He would go four and a third innings in his last outing against the College of Idaho Yotes, striking out two with four hits allowed. Unfortunately, his latest outing would not bode over so well. Getting knocked around early for four runs and eight hits.

It would be up to the bullpen to keep the Aggies in it. Zeke Dougan and Corbin Bailey would follow Malleck. The Mustangs seemed to be seeing the Aggie pitchers well as they went on for another six hits and four runs. 

The Aggie offense was absent for the second game in a row for the Aggies. They Had more runners left on base (4) and strikeouts (7) than they did total hits (2). In addition, the Aggies would only send three batters to the plate for half the game. This not only swung the momentum in favor of the Mustangs but further depleted the Aggie bullpen due to short rest. 

The Aggies return home looking forward to the following weekend series against the Tabor (Kan.) Bluejays. Starting Saturday, February 19th in Woodward, Oklahoma.