LAS CRUCES, N.M. (Interstat) — Mario Trivella homered twice and drove in five runs, Marc Hersh also hit two home runs and drove in five, and Florida International outslugged New Mexico State 17-12 on Thursday night at Presley Askew Field in a Conference USA game.

The Golden Panthers improved to 18-34 while the Aggies fell to 17-33. Florida International collected 11 hits to New Mexico State’s 12, but took advantage of walks, hit batters and timely extra-base hits to build a large lead and withstand a late Aggies rally.

Trivella, the shortstop, went 3 for 5 with a three-run homer in the second inning and a two-run shot in the ninth. Hersh, the catcher, was 2 for 4 with a two-run homer in the third and a three-run blast in the eighth. Cole Cleveland added two hits and two RBIs, including a sacrifice fly.

New Mexico State first baseman Steve Solorzano went 2 for 5 with a grand slam in the eighth inning and four RBIs. Left fielder Aidan Taclas was 2 for 3 with a two-run homer in the fifth and two RBIs, and shortstop Boston Vest drove in two runs with a first-inning double.

The game featured seven home runs and multiple big innings. Florida International took control early, scoring six runs in the top of the second. Hersh walked, Hector Candelas was hit by a pitch, and Samuel Fischer delivered a sacrifice fly before Trivella launched his three-run homer to left center.

New Mexico State answered with two runs in the bottom of the first on Vest’s double, but the Golden Panthers extended the lead to 8-2 in the third on Hersh’s two-run homer. After the Aggies cut it to 8-4 on Taclas’ two-run homer in the fifth, Florida International erupted for four runs in the sixth on a wild pitch, a bases-loaded walk, a hit batter and a sacrifice fly.

Hersh’s three-run homer in the eighth made it 17-6, but New Mexico State refused to fold. In the bottom of the eighth, the Aggies sent 10 men to the plate and scored six runs. Solorzano’s grand slam to left center brought the score to 17-10, and an error on the pitcher allowed two more runs to cross, making it 17-12 before the inning ended on a double play.

Florida International added insurance in the ninth when Trivella hit his second homer, a two-run shot that scored Fischer, who had been hit by a pitch. The Golden Panthers’ bullpen held over the final two innings. Jordan Vargas pitched two-thirds of an inning of scoreless relief, and Tyrus Riley worked a perfect ninth with one strikeout.

Preston Prince started for Florida International and lasted 4 1/3 innings, allowing four hits and four earned runs with four strikeouts. Tracen Cameron threw 2 2/3 innings, giving up two earned runs and striking out three. For New Mexico State, starter Connor Wylde was pulled after the first inning, and a parade of five relievers combined to allow 17 runs on 11 hits.

The series continues Friday and Saturday. Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Florida International 4, New Mexico State 1, and Interstat’s ELO system gave the Golden Panthers a 51.40 percent probability to win.