Highlands improved to 18-3 overall with a 7-5 win over cross-state rivals Eastern New Mexico University who fall to 9-12. The Cowboys had a total of six strikeouts and 10 hits on 43 batters faced.
The first three innings was a very tight pitcher's dual as Highlands started a pitcher each inning.
Jason Sirak got the start and was the only one to draw a walk. After Sirak,
Gavin Hite started slow as he plunked Derek Crenshaw. From there, Hite forced the next two to fly out and struck out Blake Thomsen. In the third,
Nicasio Gonzalez replaced Hite and fanned one.
Offensively in the first three, the Cowboys got their only two hits when
Erik Scott and
Kyle Davis both hit singles. Highland's offense came alive in the fourth when Davis reached on a Greyhounds error. The errors compounded for the visitors and Highlands took full advantage of their mistakes. With their four runs in the fourth, Highlands only got two hits.
Leading 4-1 going into the 7th, Highlands defense could not contain an RBI double and Mitch Wolfe's three run blast over the left field fence. As the Cowboys trailed 5-4 starting the bottom of the 7th,
Luis Saenz doubled to right center that spurred a three run and three hit inning.
Jarod Jamerson and
Cole Davis had back to back hits which resulted in three RBI's.
The Cowboys went through nine pitchers on the day. Davis had a stellar day with two hits on three at bats and three RBI's.
Matt Gualco earned his first win of the season making his record one and one.
Oscar Almeida had one strikeout on the day and got his fifth save.
"We did a good job of answering back after they would score runs," commented Head Coach
Steve Jones. "We need to get the mentality back to win every inning."
Highlands is now 4-2 against Eastern this season
View the Complete Stats
HERE.
Highlands travels to CSU-Pueblo for a weekend series starting 3/23. First pitch is slated for 6:00 p.m. You can view the Live Stats
HERE.
GO COWBOYS!!!
