LAS CRUCES, N.M. – A three-run home run by New Mexico State in the seventh inning proved to be the difference maker Sunday, as the UIC baseball team dropped a 4-1 decision to the Aggies.
 
The Flames once again received a stellar performance from their starting pitcher. Sam Menegat, making his first appearance for the Flames since Feb. 16, 2020, allowed just one run on five hits in six innings while striking out eight. For the weekend, UIC's starting pitchers combined for a 1.42 ERA while punching out 25.
 
UIC looked to threaten right out of the gate, with Bryan Rosario and Ryan Lin-Peistrup notching back-to-back infield singles to start the game. A double steal moved the runners to third and second, respectively, but the Flames were unable to take advantage of the second and third situation with nobody out, stranding the pair of runners.
 
With two outs in the home half of the first, the Aggies matched the Flames by getting runners to second and third, but a strikeout by Menegat ended the threat.
 
New Mexico State jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the third, after a single and sacrifice bunt led to a an RBI single to right field, allowing the runner to score from second.
 
The Aggie lead didn't last long, as UIC evened the score at 1-all in the next half inning. Ryan Nagelbach led off the top of the fourth with a triple to center and came home to score on the RBI groundout by Breck Nowik.
 
Tied at 1-all in the bottom of the seventh, New Mexico State took the lead thanks to a 3-run blast to right center to jump in front by a 4-1 margin.
 
UIC had one last shot to even the score in the eighth after the Flames had runners on the corners with one out. Lin-Peistrup led off the inning with a single and moved to third with one out on the single by Joshua Figueroa. Nowik drew a two-out walk to load the bases, setting the stage for pinch hitter Cole Conn, but a flyout to the warning track ended UIC's final scoring opportunity.
 
The Flames will be back in action next weekend for a three-game series at California.