The NMHU Cowboys won the first game of their four-game home series against the Lopers of the University of Nebraska-Kearney, on 4/27, at Brandt Field, by the final score of 7-2. With the victory, the Cowboys led by Head Coach
Steve Jones, improve to a 23-10 record in the RMAC and 30-12 in overall play. The Cowboys are currently ranked fifth in the NCAA DII Central Region standings and are atop the Plains Division of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference.
The Lopers scored first in the top of the second inning. They took a 2-0 lead with two runs scored on three hits.
The Cowboys answered back with two runs of their own in the bottom of the second inning, to tie the game up at two apiece.
The Cowboys took a one-run lead in the bottom of the third inning when
Luis Saenz hit a sacrifice fly to center field, allowing
Erik Scott to score.
The Cowboys added some insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth inning. With two outs in the inning,
Josh McMahon drew a walk and
Luis Saenz drove him in with an RBI double to center field. The Cowboys would score another three runs before the Lopers could end the eighth inning.
When the final out was recorded in the top of the ninth inning the Cowboys were victorious by the final score of 7-2.
Chris Prokupek (5-5) was credited with the win for the Cowboys. After a rocky start, Prokupek settled down and threw a solid game from the mound, allowing only two runs on seven hits. Prokupek went seven and two-thirds innings, struck out five and walked one in the 32 batters he faced. Prokupek was throwing hard for much of the game and at one point he retired 10 straight Lopers.
Richard Sandoval recorded his first save of the year for the Cowboys. He was brought on in relief of Prokupek in the top of the eighth inning and got the final out of the eighth, striking out the Lopers' pinch hitter with the tying run on third base. Sandoval threw one and a third innings from the mound and faced six batters. He allowed no runs on one hit, struck out one and walked one.
The Cowboys' offense combined for a .323 team batting average. They scored seven runs from 10 hits and had five doubles.
Eric Maupin,
Luis Saenz, and
Chris Pile were the offensive leaders in the game for the Cowboys.
Maupin was 3-4 at the plate with two RBIs, one run scored, and hit two doubles.
Saenz went 2-3 from the batter's box with two RBIs, two runs scored, and a double.
Pile finished the game 2-3 at the plate with two RBIs, one run scored and he also hit two doubles.
The Cowboys will continue their home series against the Lopers tomorrow, 4/28, in a double header at Brandt Field. The Cowboys will host the Lopers in two seven-inning games. Game one is scheduled to begin at 12pm with game two to follow shortly after the completion of game one.
Tomorrow is fan appreciation day at the ballpark. There will be free food and the first two hundred fans will receive a free souvenir baseball courtesy of NMHU corporate sponsor Southwest Capital Bank.
Come on out to Brandt Field in Las Vegas, N.M. and support NMHU Cowboy Baseball, if you can't make it to the game you can click
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GO COWBOYS!!!
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