LAS CRUCES, N.M. – The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley baseball team dropped the opening game of their three-game series with New Mexico State University 10-2 on Friday at Presley Askew Field.
 
UTRGV (18-16, 2-5 WAC) jumped out in front in the first inning against New Mexico State starter Kyle Bradish. Junior Cris Castillo reached on an infield single and then moved to third on an error. UTRGV loaded the bases for senior Joseph Collazo, who followed with an RBI walk to make it 1-0.
 
Castillo and senior Austin Siener reached to start the top of the third and then both moved up a base after a sacrifice bunt by senior Jose Garcia. UTRGV took advantage of a miscue by New Mexico State as Castillo came in to score on a passed ball to push their lead to 2-0.
 
That would be all Bradish (5-0) would allow as he pitched in seven innings while allowing just two runs, one earned, while striking out five to earn his fifth win of the season.
 
New Mexico State (18-13, 4-0 WAC) got on the board against UTRGV starter junior Carter Johnson in the bottom of the fifth. Tristan Carranza walked to start the inning and then one out later Mason Fishback hit a two-run home run to tie the game. Brent Sakurai followed with a triple and then came around to score on an RBI single by Jason Bush to give New Mexico State the 3-2 lead.
 
New Mexico State knocked Johnson (4-4), who pitched six and a third innings while allowing six runs three of which were earned, out of the game in the bottom of the seventh as they scored three more runs to push their lead to 6-3.
 
New Mexico State scored four more runs against the UTRGV bullpen in the bottom of the eighth to put the game out of reach.
 
UTRGV and New Mexico State will play the second game of the series on Saturday at 3 p.m.