Box Score GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – The Cowboys rallied from 8-2 down with seven unanswered, but the Texans came back with one in the ninth and four in the 10th as the New Mexico Highlands baseball team (32-22) 2014 season came to a close with a 13-9 loss to Tarleton State (30-23) in the second round of the NCAA South Central Region in Grand Junction, Colo.
Senior
Jordan Goliat, in his final game for the Cowboys, led off the bottom of the first with a blast to right for his second round-tripper of the season. Who knew it was a foreshadowing of things to come?
With Highlands down 8-2 in the bottom of the sixth, senior
Justin Rodriguez hit what looked to be a harmless solo home run to cut the deficit to five. In the seventh with one out, senior
Tyler Hayes singled and Goliat doubled to put two men in scoring position. Junior
Andrew Ratterman got a hold of a pitch that just stayed fair down the right field line to cut the deficit to two. After a foul pop up, Rodriguez and junior
Colby Wilmer went back-to-back solo shots to tie the game.
A sacrifice fly by Goliat gave the Cowboys the lead after eight. He finished the game a triple short of the cycle in four at-bats with two runs scored and two RBI's.
However, senior
Ben Ruff gave up a single to the Texans' Kevin Meredith with a man on second with two outs in the ninth to tie the game and send it to extra innings.
Three singles and a sacrifice bunt in the top of the 10th put Tarleton State up 10-9 in the game. A walk loaded the bases before a sacrifice fly gave Tarleton State a two-run edge. Luke Slentz sealed the game with a two-out, two RBI double to put Tarleton State up 13-9.
Highlands managed a two-out walk in the bottom of the 10th, but that was all it managed as the Cowboys lost 13-9 in 10 innings.
Ruff took the loss for the second time in as many games in the NCAA Tournament, finishing his career 1-6.
Everyone in the Texans starting line-up recorded a hit, led by Noel Nevarez's four hits in five at-bats with three runs scored and three RBI's. Allowing one run on three hits in 3.1 innings pitched for Tarleton State, Garrett Kelly picked up the win.
