LAS CRUCES, N.M. – New Mexico State scored three runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to complete the comeback and hand Towson an 8-5 defeat in the 2016 season opener Friday evening.
 
How it Happened

• Towson (0-1) took advantage of an error in the fifth inning to push across five unearned runs and take a 5-1 lead.
• Cuinn Mullins got the Tigers on the board with an RBI single to left center.
• Brady Policelli drove in two runs with a base hit.
• A.J. Gallo added to the lead with a two-run single to center field.
• The Aggies (1-0) began their comeback in the home-half of the inning by pushing across one run.  They would added two runs in the sixth and one in the seventh to tie the game.
• NMSU took the lead for good in the eighth after a walk and a hit batter set the table.  Daniel Johnson drove in two runs with a single to left, before L.J. Hatch added a run with a sacrifice fly to center.
• David Marriggi (0-1) took the loss after allowing both hitters he faced in the eighth to score.
• Tyler Erwin (1-0) picked up the win in relief, striking out two in one inning of work.
• Brent Worthen (1) fanned two in the ninth to earn the save.

 
Inside the Numbers

• Freshman Cuinn Mullins led the offense with a pair of hits and an RBI.
• Policelli and Gallo each delivered two-run singles in the fifth inning.
• Freshman Richie Palacios went 0-for-2 in his collegiate debut, but drew a pair of walks and scored a run.
• Matt Golczewski was effective in his first outing of the season as he allowed just one run on four hits, with four strikeouts, over four innings.
• The Towson offense collected six hits in the game.  Five of the six hits came with two outs.
• The Tigers went 3-for-4 with runners in scoring position.

 
On Deck
The two teams will play the middle game of the three-game series Saturday at 4 p.m.  Senior Austin Clark will take the mound for the Tigers.