The first day of the Western Athletic Conference Tournament is almost here, and New Mexico State baseball is still in the tournament, with little to play for. The Aggies barely missed making the tournament, as they took two of three games against Utah Valley in the regular season. Now, the Aggies are facing off against Sam Houston State in the first round of the tournament. It will be an interesting matchup, as the Aggies have not won a conference game in many years.
Northern Colorado baseball
The baseball team ended its season in St. George, Utah, with a series sweep by Dixie State. The Trailblazers struggled throughout the series, unable to hold leads, push teams through the first inning, and finish off their opponents with a high strikeout rate. The win for Dixie State, meanwhile, was a much-needed victory for the No. 5 seed in the conference tournament.
Lamar University’s season-ending loss to Abilene Christian
Lamar University’s baseball season was cut short on Friday night when the Cardinals were swept by Abilene Christian, 9-4. The loss ended Lamar’s season, ending the program’s best season in over a decade. The Cardinals finished with a 37-21 overall record, missing the WAC Tournament by a single game. But they did manage to finish the season with a 20-10 conference record.
Sacramento State’s first-round matchup with Grand Canyon
With a win against the Vaqueros in their last WAC Tournament game, Sacramento State can clinch the league championship in the 2022 season. In addition to Grand Canyon, the Hornets will face UT Rio Grande Valley on Saturday. These two teams have a history, and the Hornets have won six straight elimination games against Grand Canyon. The two teams are tied at 19 games each, and this will be their 35th game against each other.
Utah Valley’s win over Utah State
After suffering through a long season-ending knee injury, senior Michael Woodbury returned to the court and made his postseason debut against his alma mater. His triple with 10:27 left in the game put UVU on a 23-3 run. The run gave UVU a 1-0 lead. It would go on to defeat Utah State, 28-24, to advance to the WAC Tournament.
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Great Bend’s victory over New Mexico State
The Aggies (25-3, 11-1 WAC) are seeking their 10th straight conference title game victory and will be favored to win the tournament title. They are coming off their best regular season campaign in five years and have earned national attention in the offseason after recruiting competitive transfers at all levels. New Mexico State also boasts plenty of firepower coming back from last season and will be a favorite to win the tournament in its first appearance since 2011. The Aggies have a good shot of making the Sweet 16 this year as the 5.5-point favorites.