Box Score ALAMOSA, Colo. – Morgan McCasland finished a triple short of the cycle and
Blake Harrison turned in a solid 7.2 innings of work as the New Mexico Highlands baseball team (4-7, 1-0 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference) bested Adams State (2-9, 0-1 RMAC) in the conference opener for both teams.
"We pitched well and played good defense," head coach
Steve Jones explained. "Offensively, we did just enough. We really need to get better with our offensive production."
With the game knotted at one in the top of the third with two outs, McCasland blasted an 0-1 pitch to left field that hit off the scoreboard to put the Cowboys up 2-1. It was McCasland's third home run of the season. The two out hit parade continued for Highlands in the third when
Colby Wilmer followed with an infield single and stole second. The hustle paid off when
Justin Rodriguez followed with an RBI single up the middle.
The clean-up and five-hole hitter provided the spark for the Cowboys in the game as McCasland finished with three hits in four at-bats with a pair of RBI's and a run scored. Wilmer went 2-for-4 with two RBI's and a run scored. Both players also had walks on the day.
The first run of the game in the top of the first after no men were on with two men were out.
Matthew Chavez singled to centerfield and advanced to second on an infield single by McCasland. Wilmer poked a base hit up the middle to score Chavez and put the Cowboys up 1-0. The Grizzlies answered with a run of their own in the bottom of the frame.
The offense provided the initial spark, but solid defense kept the home team from inching closer. With Highlands clinging to a 3-1 lead in the bottom of the sixth, the Grizzlies put a runner on third with two outs. Marco Garmendia smoked a ball down the left field line, but the ball hung up just enough for
Andrew Ratterman to make a diving grab. Highlands responded in the top of the seventh with a pair of runs on bases loaded walks.
In the top of the ninth, the Grizzlies put the first two runners on base to bring the tying run to the plate. However, McCasland gunned down the lead runner trying to steal third. On the mound,
Braulio Hernandez got a strikeout looking and a groundout to preserve the 5-2 Cowboys victory for his first save of the season.
Blake Harrison (1-1) evened his record with a solid 99-pitch, 7.2 inning outing. After allowing the first two batters to reach on hits in the ballgame, Harrison allowed only four more base knocks and two runs while striking out five.
Adams State managed single tallies in the first and eighth. Drew Wold led off the game with a double, advanced to third on a bunt single and scored on a sacrifice fly by Drew Wells. In the bottom of the eighth with one on and two outs, Wells singled on a 1-2 pitch before Dillon Bollig doubled to right field to plate a run. The Grizzlies had the tying run to the plate in the eighth, but Hernandez got a lineout to end Adams State's attempted rally.
Chris Morley and Bollig both had two hits in four at-bats for the home team. Bollig added an RBI. Toeing the rubber for the home team,
Ben Williams (1-2) allowed 10 hits and three runs over six innings of work.
The Cowboys return to action tomorrow against Adams State fosr a pair of games beginning at noon.
