LAS CRUCES, N.M. (Interstat) — Jack Turner pitched six innings of three-hit shutout ball and New Mexico State overcame an early five-run deficit to defeat Florida International 6-5 on Friday night at Presley Askew Field in a Conference USA matchup.

Turner allowed only three hits and struck out five without an earned run, improving his recent form after two rough outings. He worked around a first-inning jam when FIU loaded the bases but escaped with a groundout. The Golden Panthers had taken a 5-0 lead in the top of the first inning against starter Julian Mlodzinski, who lasted three innings and gave up three earned runs. Cooper Rasmussen singled to start the rally, and walks to Andrew Ildefonso and Aidan Cohall loaded the bases before Enrique Alvarez Jr. grounded out to end the inning.

New Mexico State answered with five runs in the bottom of the third. Jonatan Clough tripled to right-center and scored on Steve Solorzano’s single through the right side. Aidan Taclas singled, and Easton Rulli reached on a fielder’s choice that scored Solorzano on a throwing error by the second baseman. Boston Vest doubled down the left-field line, driving in two runs to tie the score. Aidan Lombardi then singled up the middle to bring home Vest for a 5-5 game.

Mlodzinski was replaced by George Adams, who threw 2 2/3 hitless innings with one strikeout. Bryce Turner followed with 2 1/3 hitless frames and three strikeouts. The game remained deadlocked until the bottom of the seventh, when an unearned run gave New Mexico State the lead. Aidan Lombardi singled and advanced to second on a center-field error. Brandon Clizbe sacrificed him to third, and Lombardi scored on a wild pitch. The Aggies loaded the bases later in the inning but could not add to the lead.

Florida International had tied the game in the top of the seventh against reliever Jake Carvajal. Caden Sammler walked, Luca Reyes walked, and Cole Cleveland singled to load the bases. Samuel Fischer singled to left, scoring Sammler. Mario Trivella followed with a two-run single to bring home Cleveland and Reyes, knotting the score at 5. Dylan Weekly relieved Carvajal and allowed no further damage, striking out one in 2 2/3 innings while surrendering two earned runs.

In the top of the ninth, FIU’s Cooper Rasmussen hit an inside-the-park home run to center field, scoring Mario Trivella ahead of him and cutting the deficit to 6-5. But Rasmussen’s blast was the final gasp for the Golden Panthers. Andrew Ildefonso struck out and Aidan Cohall flied out to right to end the game.

FIU outhit New Mexico State 8-11 overall. The Golden Panthers fell to 18-35 on the season, while the Aggies improved to 18-33. Steve Solorzano went 3-for-5 with an RBI for New Mexico State, and Aidan Lombardi was 3-for-3 with a walk and an RBI. Boston Vest drove in two runs with his double. Cooper Rasmussen finished 2-for-4 with a home run and two RBIs for Florida International.

The game featured a critical error in the third inning that allowed two unearned runs to cross for the Aggies. Easton Rulli’s fielder’s choice was ruled a throwing error by FIU second baseman Luca Reyes, which kept the inning alive and allowed New Mexico State to plate four runs in the frame, erasing FIU’s early advantage.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Florida International 4, New Mexico State 3. Interstat’s ELO system had given Florida International a 51.40 percent probability to win. The two teams meet again Saturday for the second game of the series.