Written By: NM State Athletic Dept.

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - The New Mexico State baseball team dropped their first game of the Dairy Queen Classic losing 8-1 to Minnesota, on March 2 in the Metrodome. NM State goes to 8-4 with the loss and the Gophers take their record to 4-5.

The game seemed to be a pitcher's dual through four innings as starting pitcher Casey Collins retired 11-consecutive Gophers before giving up a two-out walk. He came back and picked up the final out of the inning on a groundout to third.

The Aggies struggled in the bottom of the fifth inning giving up six runs on five hits. Minnesota score one of its runs on a passed ball, while the Aggie catcher allowed two passed balls in the inning.

Junior second baseman Parker Hipp tallied the only RBI for NM State on a fielder's choice in the top of the sixth. That was his 11th RBI of the season.

The Aggies scored their one run on three hits and committed two errors, compared to Minnesota crossing the plate eight times on nine hits while marking one error. Aggie pitchers totaled seven strikeouts on the day with Casey Collins marking two, junior Adam Mott coming up with four and, freshman Trey Higginbothom tallying one.

NM State faces Nebraska, Saturday, March 3 at 11:05 a.m. (MT) in Minneapolis. Live stats and Twitter updates will be available on the Internet.