The diamond Cowboys improved to 21-9 (14-7 RMAC) with an 8-4 win over Metro State who falls to 9-18 (6-15 RMAC). Highlands sits atop the RMAC Plains Division five games ahead of Kearney. Metro is at the bottom of the Mountain Division 10 games behind the leader, Colorado Mesa University.
Jason Sirak earned his second win and
Oscar Almeida notched his seventh save.
Sirak pitched seven complete innings giving up only three runs and fanned six of the 29 he faced. Almeida finished the game for the Cowboys by forcing Claus to ground out to
Thomas King.
Highlands breezed through the first game of the four-game series, scoring first in the third with a solo homerun from
Eric Maupin. The next inning, the Cowboys' bats came alive as their five hits crossed five across the plate.
Josh McMahon reached on a bunt followed by
Chris Pile and
Jarod Jamerson both notching singles.
Thomas King singled to left center scoring McMahon and Pile. After a balk, Highlands had runners in scoring position again.
Jordan Chavez promptly knocked a double down the left field line that scored both runners.
AJ Alexander laid down a sacrifice bunt to push Chavez to third. Chavez scored from
Matt Gualco hitting into a double play.
Metro made an attempt at taking the lead by scoring four runs off of six hits in the eighth inning, but the Highlands defense was able to stop the home team from advancing. Highlands offense scored enough runs in four different innings to hold the lead and fend off Metro State.
Richard Sandoval and
David Saiz both pitched a combined 1.2 innings facing 11 batters. Catcher
Chris Pile hit three-for-four with one run and had one of the three stolen bases for the 'Pokes. The visiting pitching staff had five more strikeouts than Metro's three.
Thomas King went three-for-five, crossing the plate twice and knocked in two of his teammates.
Highlands takes on Metro for games two and three of the series on 4/6. First pitch is at 12:00 pm.
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GO COWBOYS!!!
