ALAMOSA Colo. - For the second game in the row, the Cowboys raced out to a big lead after the first inning. However, for the second game in a row, the Grizzlies countered with a big late inning to come from behind.
New Mexico Highlands (17-21, 11-17 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference) was dealt a huge blow to their RMAC Tournament aspirations thanks to a 10-7 loss to Adams State (17-24, 13-15 RMAC) in the series finale Sunday afternoon (April 19).
The Cowboys jumped out to a big lead with four runs in the first inning. With one out, senior
EJ Stanton singled and scored on fifth-year senior
Matthew Chavez's double. Senior
Morgan McCasland walked and senior
Joe Cervantes was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Fifth-year senior
Omar Garcia and junior
Kenneth Fudge both singled to drive in two more runs and put Highlands up 3-0 after one. The Cowboys went up 4-0 when the second time in as many innings, Chavez doubled and then scored on McCasland's single.
The Grizzlies answered to tie the game at four in the bottom of the fifth on a Jake Montoya two-run home run, but Highlands scored a run in both the seventh and eighth to regain the lead. McCasland homered the seventh and senior
Colby Wilmer reached second on an Adams State miscue, was bunted to third and scored on Stanton's groundout in the eighth.
After the Grizzlies took a 10-6 lead, Garcia added a solo home run in the ninth for Highlands to tie McCasland for the team lead with eight home runs this season, but it was not enough in the three-run loss.
Chavez was 3-for-4 while McCasland went 2-for-4 for the game while both had a pair of runs scored and at least an RBI. Freshman
Mike Chavez came out of the bullpen for the loss, allowing one hit and three runs (two earned) to fall to 2-1 on the season.
With Adams State down 6-4 in the bottom of the eighth, Tyler Thurston and Dillon Bollig cut the deficit to one with back-to-back doubles. After an error put two one, Jaron Dorchinez doubled to tie the game. An intentional walk loaded the bases before Dillon Granzella hit the second Adams State grand slam of the weekend.
Bailey Garcia got the win in relief for the home team, allowing one hit and one run in 1.1 innings of relief to even his record at 1-1.
The Cowboys return to action Friday (April 24) for senior weekend against nationally-ranked CSU-Pueblo. Friday's game is set for 3 p.m.
