Box Score PORTALES, N.M. – Redshirt junior
Matthew Chavez extended his hitting streak to four games, but the New Mexico Highlands baseball team (2-2) lost game one to Eastern New Mexico (4-1) Friday night (Feb. 14) in Portales, N.M.
Chavez led off the fourth with a single on the first pitch and walked in every other at-bat. Down 7-0 in the top of the ninth, New Mexico Highlands loaded the bases with one out. Senior
Jonathan Stavinoha led off the inning when he was hit by a pitch. With one out, junior
Morgan McCasland and senior
Ben Ruff each singled through the left side to load the bases. However, an infield fly and a strikeout ended the ballgame.
McCasland led the Cowboys from the plate with a single and double. Junior
Erick McRae (0-2) toed the rubber and took the loss for Highlands, allowing six hits and five runs (four earned) with four walks and three strikeouts.
Eastern New Mexico scored a pair of runs in the bottom of the second when the first two men reached and were sacrificed to second. Ryan Forkel than singled in a run and a sacrifice fly by Bryan Pinocci gave the home team the lead. The Greyhounds added a single run in the fifth and a pair of runs in both the sixth and eighth.
Forkel went 3-for-4 for the day with two runs scored and an RBI. Ben Monticello improved to 2-0 on the season, allowing no runs on three hits and four walks in six innings pitched. Aaron Anderson threw the final three innings for his first save of the season.
The New Mexico Highlands baseball team returns to action tomorrow (Feb. 15) for two, seven inning games to begin at 1 p.m.
