Box Score LAS VEGAS, N.M. – With the Cowboys facing a 10-2 deficit, who knew they had the ThunderWolves right where they would want them?
The New Mexico Highlands baseball team (7-10, 4-3 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference) scored 10 of the last 11 runs of the ballgame to complete the comeback and stun CSU-Pueblo (7-9, 3-3 RMAC) 12-11 Sunday afternoon (March 9) to complete the series split.
Trailing 10-5 entering the bottom of the seventh, apparently the seventh-inning stretch provided the spark for Highlands. Senior
Jordan Goliat started the inning with a walk. Junior
Andrew Ratterman looked like he grounded into a possible double play, but the second baseman missed the bag as Highlands put the first two runners on base
Junior
Nick Gonzales followed with an RBI single to score Goliat, but Gonzales and Ratterman took advantage of a slow throw into the infield as both runners moved into scoring position. A walk loaded the bases before a passed ball brought the Cowboys within three. Junior
Colby Wilmer drove in a pair on a single as the Cowboys pulled within one. Redshirt junior
Matthew Chavez singled and advanced into scoring position when Wilmer was caught trying to steal third. A walk and a pair of hit by pitches knotted the game at 10.
A sacrifice fly by Goliat in his second at-bat of the frame put Highlands back in the lead, 11-10, after seven.
CSU-Pueblo tied the game in the top of the eighth, scoring after two outs and no runners on base. They put the leadoff man on in the top of the ninth, but a foul out on a hit-and-run led to a double play and giving the Cowboys a chance at a walk-off win.
Senior
Justin Rodriguez led off the ninth with a single and was sacrificed to second. After an intentional walk, Ratterman poked the ball through on the first pitch to drive in the winning run.
Wilmer led the Cowboys offensively with three hits in as many at-bats, including his first home run of the season. He added three RBI's and a run scored with two walks. Senior
Javier Ledford added a double and home run in four at-bats with two runs scored.
Coming in the ninth with a man on, sophomore
Anthony Badalucco captured the win in his first decision of the season, getting a double play and a flyout in only eight pitches thrown.
Trailing 2-1 after a two-run shot by Ledford in the bottom of the second, Scott Hoyt put CSU-Pueblo up 4-1 with a three-run home run, his first round-tripper of the season.
The ThunderWolves used an error by the Cowboys in the top of the fourth to put up their own six spot. With one out, Mike Wagner advanced to second on a throwing error. After a groundout and walk, the ThunderWolves hit three-straight singles and a double to drive in five runs – all of which were unearned. The ninth batter of the inning, Mario Sanchez, singled to left field to put the visitors up 10-2.
Hoyt led the visitors from the plate with three hits in five at-bats with four RBI's and a pair of runs scored. Austin Mascorro went 3-for-4 with four runs scored and three RBI's. He led off the game with a triple and scored on a fielding error.
Kolby Rimer picked up his second loss of the season, giving up three hits, a pair of walks and the Cowboys' winning run in two innings of work.
Highlands returns to action next weekend when it travels to Denver to take on Metro State for a four game series.
