New Mexico Highlands fans are reminded to sign up for text updates on all Cowboys and Cowgirls news by clicking here.LAS VEGAS, N.M. – There is something to be said about the last at-bat with a tied ballgame.
The Cowboys last three wins at home have all been in walkoff fashion as New Mexico Highlands (9-9, 3-5 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference) defeated Regis (7-11, 3-7 RMAC) 3-2 in 13 innings Sunday afternoon (March 15).
The name of the game was pitching as redshirt freshman
Curtis Hynes allowed two runs on five hits in only 81 pitches but struck out seven. However, the Cowboys bullpen combined for six shutout innings on five hits.
This time, it was Regis' Kirby Schwein who threw 10 innings, allowing six runs and two hits on 112 pitches.
The Cowboys had the winning run at third in both the 11th and 12th, but it was the 13th where Highlands finally ended it. Senior
Joe Cervantes had a leadoff double and was sacrificed to third. After an intentional walk, junior
Kenneth Fudge swiped second. On an 0-2 count, junior
Jesus Caporal takes advantage of the drawn-in infield as he bloops a ball to shallow right center to drive in the winning run.
Senior
Nick Gonzales went 4-for-5 with an RBI, while Cervantes hit his third home run of the season and the first on a day other than the seventh of the month. Freshman
Mike Chavez picked up the win in his first decision by throwing in the 13th, allowing only one hit.
For the first time in the series, the Cowboys struck first. Senior
Colby Wilmer doubled, advanced to third on a ground ball and scored on Gonzales' single in the third. Logan Knox tied it up for Regis with a solo shot in the top of the sixth, but Cervantes answered with a blast to right center that just cleared the fence to put Highlands up one.
In the seventh for Regis, a pair of hits and a sacrifice bunt put a pair in scoring position. However, Hynes got a sacrifice fly and a lineout to second as the score was all tied.
Knox went 2-for-6 for the visitors with one run scored and an RBI. Chris Quackenbush (1-3) was the hard-luck loser by giving up one earned run and one hit.
Regis looked like it took the lead in the top of the ninth, but a fortuitous bounce went Highlands way. With two outs and the bases empty, Christian Bitar walked and Connor Rochon singled. Mickey Meinhofer then singled in what looked like to be the go-ahead run, but the umpire ruled that the ball hit Rochon's ankle so he was called out and sent the game to the bottom of the ninth.
The Cowboys return to action next Friday (March 20) when they travel to Grand Junction, Colorado, to take on Colorado Mesa. First pitch is set for 6:05 p.m.
