Box Score Las Vegas, N.M. – The NMHU Cowboys opened the 2013 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference season with a 7-4 victory over the rival Grizzlies of Adams State University, on Mar. 1. The Cowboys were able to generate enough offense and starting pitcher
Greg Hansen threw eight complete innings to give the Cowboys a 1-0 record in the conference. The Cowboys, led by Head Coach
Steve Jones, improve to 4-5 in the 2013 season.
NMHU 7 – ASU 4
Greg Hansen started the game in command of the mound, striking out the first batter he faced. The Grizzlies were able to get a couple of hits in the top of the first and scored a run to take an early 1-0 lead.
The Cowboys answered the ASU challenge in the bottom of the first inning. They were able to score two runs off of a Grizzlies' fielding error, taking a 2-1 lead.
The Grizzlies leaped back in front (3-2) in the top of the second inning with two runs scored on four hits.
The Pokes would once again answer the Grizzlies' challenge in the bottom of the second inning. With runners on first and second base,
Jordan Goliat ripped an RBI single through the left side of the infield to tie the game up 3-3.
Matt Gualco followed that up with a sacrifice fly to right field, allowing
Jordan Falcon to cross home plate. Then
Josh McMahon came to the plate and hit a rocket to shortstop. Goliat scored from third base on the play and McMahon was thrown out at first base. After two innings of play, the Cowboys had a 5-3 lead.
Hansen settled in and shut down the Grizzlies' offense in the next two innings, but ASU was able to pick up another run in the top of the fifth inning. The Pokes got out of the inning and held on to a 5-4 lead.
The game turned into a pitchers' duel for the next few innings, with neither team able to generate any offense.
In the bottom of the eighth inning, the Cowboys struck again.
Chris Pile entered the game to pinch hit and reached base on a fielder's choice. Pile then advanced to second base when
Jordan Falcon grounded out to short and
Jordan Goliat was hit by a pitch, giving the Pokes runners on first and second base.
Matt Gualco stepped to the plate and ripped a shot into deep left field. Pile crossed home plate easily and Goliat showed his speed, scoring from first base on the play. The two runs gave the Cowboys a little breathing room, as they now held a 7-4 lead.
Cowboy closer
Oscar Almeida entered the game in the top of the ninth inning and the home crowd was excited to have the 2012 RMAC saves leader take the mound. Almeida got the ASU lead-off batter to fly out to right field. The Grizzlies were not about to go down without a fight and they made the game interesting. The next two batters hit singles, bringing the tying run to the plate. Almeida struck out the next Grizzly he faced, but ASU loaded up the bases on the next at bat. With the bases loaded, Almeida got ASU's Dillon Granzella to hit into a fielder's choice, ending the game.
Greg Hansen (2-1) completed eight innings from the pitcher's mound for the Cowboys. Hansen allowed four runs on 12 hits and struck out six.
Oscar Almeida earned his first save of the 2013 season. Almeida threw one inning for the Pokes, allowing no runs on two hits and striking out one batter.
Jordan Goliat and
Matt Gualco led the Cowboys on offense.
Jordan Goliat was 3-4 at the plate. He scored three runs, an RBI, and hit two doubles.
Matt Gualco went 1-2 from the batter's box. Gualco had three RBIs, scored one run, and hit one double.
The Cowboys will continue conference action again on Saturday, Mar. 2, in a double-header against the Grizzlies of Adams State University. The first game at Brandt Field, in Las Vegas, N.M., will begin at 11:00 a.m., with game two to follow shortly after the completion of game one. If you can't make it out to the field to catch you Cowboys in action, you can click
HERE to follow the Live Stats. If you would like to view all the action live online, you can click
HERE to watch on the Proview Network.
GO COWBOYS!!!
