GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – The Cowboys rallied to a 5-2 lead in game two, but the Mavericks responded with the last six runs of the game as New Mexico Highlands (9-12, 3-8 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference) dropped game one 4-0 before falling in game two 8-5 against #1 Colorado Mesa (23-2, 15-0 RMAC) Saturday afternoon (March 21) in Grand Junction, Colorado.
Trailing 2-0 in the top of the fifth, the Cowboys responded with five runs – their only runs of the day. Senior
Colby Wilmer had an infield single before freshman
Zac Boehler singled down the leftfield line to put men on the corners. Junior
Kenneth Fudge cut the deficit in half with a single before senior
Morgan McCasland walked to load the bases. Senior
Andrew Rattermann tied the game up with a walk. Senior
Nick Gonzales singled in a run and classmate
Joe Cervantes doubled to score a pair and open up the Cowboys 5-2 lead.
Jake Druce added a two-RBI double in the bottom of the fifth for Colorado Mesa to cut the Highlands' lead to one.
A key Cowboy's error led to four unearned runs for the home team in the bottom of the seventh. Kyle Serrano led off the inning with a single and advanced to third on an error during a sacrifice bunt attempt. Druce hit an infield single to tie the game, but another bunt attempt goes against the Mavericks as the Cowboys get the out at third. After a foul out, Kevan Elcock hits a three-run home run to end the game and give the Mavericks the win.
Senior
Cody Brown (0-1) took the loss in relief for the Cowboys, allowing three hits and four unearned runs in the seventh. Joey Capistran (5-0) threw the final 2.2 innings for Colorado Mesa, allowing three hits but no runs.
In game one, Highlands could not get the offense going as it mustered only three hits. With two outs in the top of the seventh, senior
Matthew Chavez and Cervantes singled, but a groundout ended the game.
Elcock had an RBI single in the second, and Ben Chamberlin added an RBI single in the third to put the Mavericks up 2-0 after three innings. The Mavericks added two more insurance runs in the fourth for the final four-run win.
Junior
Avery Brandon (0-4) took the loss by allowing seven hits and four runs in four innings pitched. Ryan Reno (7-0) picked up the complete-game win for the home team, allowing only three hits with eight strikeouts.
The Cowboys and Mavericks play the series finale tomorrow at noon.
