PUEBLO, Colo. – The Cowboys jumped out with a single tally in the top of the first, but the offensive continued sputtering and the Thunderwolves used innings of five and nine-runs as New Mexico Highlands (7-7, 1-3 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference) fell to #25 CSU-Pueblo (13-3, 5-1 RMAC) 19-6 Sunday afternoon (March 8).
Seniors
Andrew Ratterman and
Nick Gonzales led off the game with singles. Two groundouts put the Cowboys up quickly, 1-0.
Down 18-2, Highlands put up four runs, including the first home run for senior
Morgan McCasland. After the blast, junior
Kenneth Fudge and fifth-year senior
Omar Garcia singled to put men on the corners. A passed ball put a pair of runners into scoring position and a sacrifice fly scored the third run of the inning. A single and a hit-by-pitch loaded the bases before a walk by senior
Joe Cervantes scored the final Cowboy run.
McCasland recorded his first multi-hit game of the season, going 2-for-4 with two RBI's and a run scored. Gonzales added three hits. Redshirt freshman
Curtis Hynes fell to 3-1 on the year, allowing four hits and five runs (four earned) in 0.1 innings.
CSU-Pueblo took advantage of Hynes' wildness to take a 5-1 lead after one. Jordan Godman led off the first with a sharp grounder that bounced off the first baseman. On a 2-2 count, Anthony Mascorro was hit by a pitch. A walk loaded the bases, but Hynes got a shallow pop up. Manny Menocal singled through the left side to tie the game and everyone moved up a base. Lawrence Chavez then singled in a pair of runs. A failed pickoff attempt and Shane Richins singled in a run.
Beau Cebluski added a grand slam in a nine-run bottom of the sixth.
Godman went 3-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI. Richens had three hits in as many at-bats with two runs scored and two RBI's. Daniel Tessone got the win, allowing two hits and one run in four innings of work.
The Cowboys return to action Friday (March 13) when they begin home conference play against Regis. First game on Friday is scheduled for 3 p.m.
