Benny Wanger homered and reached base five times in a 19-6 season-opening loss at New Mexico State on Friday evening in Las Cruces, N.M.

Wanger had two hits, including a solo shot to right center in the seventh, walked three times and scored twice.   First-year Mason LaPlante went 2-for-2 with two runs batted in and Dai Dai Otaka also added two hits and a RBI for the Bulldogs.  

New Mexico State (5-0) scored four in the first and five more times in the second to take an early, commanding 9-1 lead.  The Aggies scored 98 runs in their first four games and continued their red-hot hitting against the Bulldogs.

Thomas Espig started the game for the Bulldogs, went the first 1 1/3 innings and allowed seven earned runs.

The four-game series continues Saturday with a doubleheader beginning at 3:05 p.m. Eastern Time.

Report filed by Ernie Bertothy, Yale Sports Publicity