LAS VEGAS, N.M. – Sophomore
Phil Trujillo had the best outing among Cowboys staters through five innings, but a costly error netted the Greyhounds four runs as New Mexico Highlands (1-3) lost to Eastern New Mexico (3-1) 13-4 Friday afternoon (Feb. 13) in the home opener in 2015.
The Greyhounds Charles Sandberg hit a solo shot in the first inning, but a pair of duck snorts found holes to tie the game after one inning. Facing an 0-2 count, senior
Andrew Ratterman could not have thrown the ball down the left field line any better for a leadoff single. A balk and groundout moved Ratterman to third before fifth-year senior
Matthew Chavez looped a ball to right center to tie the game.
Eastern New Mexico took the lead in the top of the second with a two-out walk, double and a wild pitch, but a costly error blew the game open in the sixth for the visitors. A pair of walks opened the inning before Dylan Nault singled up the middle for the Eastern New Mexico 3-0 lead, but a runner was gunned down at third. Chris Sanders grounded into what looked like a possible twin killing to end the third, but a muffed throw at second put runners on the corners. After a flyout, Keenan Dodd tripled in a pair of runs and Eastern New Mexico led 6-2 after the top of the sixth.
Chavez led the Cowboys with two hits in three at-bats and a pair of RBIs. Ratterman went 2-for-4 with one run scored. Trujillo (0-1) took the loss, allowing five runs (three earned) on six hits with three strikeouts in 5.1 innings.
Sandberg and Blake Cooper both had three hits and three runs scored. Mark Foley added a three-run home run in the seventh. Cody Pope allowed his first earned runs of the year but improved to 2-0, allowing two runs and five hits with four strikeouts.
A possible rally in the bottom of the sixth by Highlands came up short thanks to an out on the basepath. Senior
Colby Wilmer scorched single up the middle. With one out, senior
Nick Gonzales singled up the middle. However, Wilmer overan the bag at third and was thrown out. Chavez followed with a triple to cut the deficit to four. A strikeout ended the inning.
The Cowboys return to action tomorrow with a pair of seven-inning games beginning a
