LAS VEGAS, N.M. – After a dazzling offensive display last weekend, the Cowboy faithful were treated to a fine pitching display on Friday afternoon (Feb. 20). The New Mexico Highlands baseball team (5-4) used a solid performance in game one from sophomore
Phil Trujillo to win game one, 11-2. #10 West Texas A&M (8-3) bounced back from a 3-1, seven-inning game victory in game two.
The Cowboys fell behind 1-0 after the top of the first in game one, but the home team answered with three in the bottom of the first and four more in the third to jump up 7-1. With one out, senior
Nick Gonzales walked and fifth-year senior
Matthew Chavez then flicked a 1-2 pitch to left to extend his hitting streak to six games. Senior
Morgan McCasland then doubled in Gonzales to tie the game and put a pair in scoring position. Classmate
Joe Cervantes did the rest with a single to left field to put the home team up 3-1.
After the Buffs managed a hit off Trujillo in the second and third, the Cowboys blew the game open with four more in the third. Chavez led off the frame with a single and with one out, stole second. Chavez scored for the second time in the game when Cervantes had a second RBI single to drive in his third RBI of the game. After a groundout put Cervantes into scoring position with two outs, junior
Kenneth Fudge walked, classmate
Jesus Caporal doubled in a run with Fudge scoring from first thanks to an error. Senior
Colby Wilmer put the icing on the cake with an RBI double.
Trujillo (1-1) allowed a base runner in the fourth and sixth while retiring the side in order in the fifth, but the Buffs only managed another single tally in the seventh off the southpaw. Trujillo finished the day allowing only six hits and two runs in seven innings of work with five punchouts.
Chavez went 4-for-5 with three runs scored and one RBI. His four hits to begin the game extended his at-bat hitting streak to eight, breaking his personal best of seven consecutive at-bats with a hit last year. Chavez extended his hitting streak to seven in game two.
Wilmer, fifth-year senior
Omar Garcia, Cervantes and Gonzales all had a pair of hits in game one.
Tyler Gibson only toed the rubber for 2.2 innings for the Buffs, allowing nine hits and seven runs to fall to 1-1. The 11 runs are the most West Texas A&M has surrendered in a game this season as in their first 11 games, only Southwestern Oklahoma had tallied more than five runs (eight).
Game two saw the Buffs get themselves out of numerous jams for the 3-1 win. With two down and Chavez at first in the bottom of the first, Cervantes doubled to right but Chavez was thrown out at the plate. After an unearned West Texas A&M run in the second, Highlands faced first and second no outs in the third. However, a strikeout-caught stealing double play all but ended the threat.
West Texas A&M added huge insurance runs in the sixth. Heath Davis singled and was sacrificed to second. Matt Cole tripled in a run before Trace Hansen plated the third run with a double.
The Cowboys brought the tying run to the plate in the seventh. With one out and Fudge at first, he advanced to second on a wild pitch. Senior
EJ Stanton doubled in Fudge on a full count to bring up senior
Andrew Ratterman. He grounded out to end the ballgame.
Senior
Anthony Badalucco allowed four hits and three runs (two earned) in six innings of work to fall to 1-1 for the Cowboys. Justin Disbro improved to 2-0 for the Buffs, allowing seven hits and one run in 6.2 innings of work. Kyle Olason got the final out for his first save of the year.
The Cowboys concludes the weekend tomorrow with a nine-inning contest beginning at 11 a.m.
