TUCSON (Interstat) — Beau Sylvester homered twice and drove in three runs, leading Arizona to an 8-6 victory over New Mexico State on Wednesday night at Hi Corbett Field.

The Wildcats improved to 17-30, while the Aggies fell to 17-28. Arizona snapped a five-game losing streak and avenged a 13-3 loss to New Mexico State on April 8, the teams’ only other meeting this season.

Sylvester, a catcher, put Arizona ahead for good in the seventh inning with a solo shot to deep left field, his second homer of the night. He earlier launched a two-run blast in the third inning that turned a one-run lead into a 5-0 advantage. Sylvester finished 2 for 4 with the two homers and also grounded into a double play in the eighth.

Nate Novitske, the Wildcats’ second baseman, set the table with three hits, including a pair of doubles. He scored twice and drove in a run in the eighth on a fielder’s choice that gave Arizona an 8-1 cushion. Tony Lira added a single and an RBI, and Cash Brennan singled twice, driving in two runs.

New Mexico State mounted a furious ninth-inning rally that fell short. Trailing 8-1, the Aggies sent nine batters to the plate and scored five times on five hits. Aidan Taclas delivered a two-run double to center field, and Camden Kaufman singled in a run. Steve Solorzano capped the burst with an RBI single that made it 8-6.

Collin McKinney, Arizona’s fifth pitcher, entered with two outs in the ninth and struck out Chris Daniels, then got Boston Vest to foul out to first base to end the game.

Arizona used six pitchers. Jack Lafflam started and allowed two runs on three hits over four innings, striking out five. Maclain Roberts, Matthew Martinez, Patrick Morris and McKinney combined for five innings of relief. McKinney earned the save.

New Mexico State starter Bradyn Barnes lasted four innings, surrendering five runs on five hits. Colton Sneddon followed with two scoreless innings before Fabian Ibarra gave up Sylvester’s go-ahead homer in the seventh.

The Aggies outhit Arizona 9-8 through the first eight innings, but stranded nine runners. They left the bases loaded in the ninth when Vest’s foul out ended the threat.

Arizona’s early outburst began in the second inning. Mathis Meurant doubled and scored on Brennan’s single up the middle. Carson McEntire doubled, and a wild pitch brought home Brennan for a 2-0 lead.

In the third, Novitske doubled and Lira singled him home. Sylvester followed with his first homer, a drive to left that made it 5-0.

New Mexico State got on the board in the sixth. Jonatan Clough singled, moved to third on a walk and a flyout, and scored on Vest’s single.

Sylvester’s seventh-inning homer restored a six-run lead, and Novitske’s fielder’s choice made it 8-1 in the eighth.

The Aggies’ ninth-inning rally saw pinch-hitter Easton Rulli hit by a pitch, Aidan Lombardi walk, and Tommy Meluskey single. Kaufman’s single scored Rulli. Clough’s groundout brought home Lombardi, and Taclas doubled to left-center, scoring Meluskey and Kaufman. Solorzano singled to plate Taclas.

Arizona’s pitching change to McKinney ended the uprising.

The Wildcats next host Houston beginning Friday. New Mexico State visits Missouri State on Friday.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a 3-2 final score in favor of New Mexico State, but Interstat’s ELO system gave Arizona a 77.20 percent probability to win.