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EDINBURG -- A three-run homerun by Bonham Hough put the Broncs back into play but wasn't enough as UTPA dropped a 9-8 decision to #24 New Mexico State this Thursday (March 26) afternoon at Edinburg Baseball Stadium.

"This has been the best team we played all year and we hung in there. The guys played well and I'm proud of them," said head coach Manny Mantrana. "We came up a little short in the extra inning, but it's going to be a long season."

The New Mexico State Aggies kept the Broncs scoreless and hitless in the first five innings of play. The Aggies were able to score three runs in the first, two in the third and one in the sixth to give the Aggies a 6-0 lead.

The Broncs final recorded a hit in the sixth on a single to left field by Jordan Rutenbar. Then what is rarely done at Edinburg Baseball Stadium occurred. Garrett Bivone blasted a two-run homerun to right field driving in Rutenbar to put the Broncs behind by four runs.

UTPA posted a single run in the bottom of the eighth on a double up the middle by Andrew Perez allowing Jose Mendoza to score to put the Broncs behind by three.

New Mexico State then added two runs in the ninth to give the Aggies a five-run lead.

The Broncs made things interesting in the bottom of the ninth as Bonham Hough hit a three-run homerun over the left field wall to bring the Broncs within two runs. Then on a RBI single to right field by Abraham Garcia, Mendoza was able to cross the plate to make the score 8-7. On the next play, Ryan Vest reached on a fielder's choice scoring Rutenbar to tie the ball game.

Taking the game into extra innings, New Mexico State was able to drive in a run on a pass ball allowing Bryan Marquez to give the Aggies a one-run lead, 9-8.

Garrett Bivone finished the evening 2-for-4 with two RBI, one run, a double and a homerun, while Seth Brevard was charged with his first loss of the season.

New Mexico State's Bryan Marquez went 2-for-4 for the Aggies with four RBI, three runs and two homeruns.

The Broncs continue the three-game series against New Mexico State Friday afternoon at Edinburg baseball stadium with first pitch slated for 6:00 p.m. CT.