LAS VEGAS, N.M. – The Cowboys lost a tough, 3-1 decision in game one, but defeated the Thunderwolves 5-1 in game two as New Mexico Highlands (18-23 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference) split with #11 CSU-Pueblo (35-10, 25-8 RMAC) on senior day Saturday afternoon (April 25) in Las Vegas, New Mexico.
Senior
Anthony Badalucco twirled a six-inning gem in game two to even his record to 4-4, not even allowing a hit until the fourth inning. Badalucco finished the game by allowing two hits and one run. Senior
Jordan Hicks pitched a scoreless seventh.
With the Cowboys up 2-0 in the second inning with the bases loaded and two outs, senior
Matthew Chavez snuck the 2-2 pitch just fair down the right field line. The ball went into the right field corner as Chavez legged out his third triple of the season.
Chavez was 2-for-4 with four RBI's while senior
Omar Garcia had a pair of hits. Classmate
EJ Stanton added a double and two runs scored to extend his hitting streak to nine games – with one hit in each game.
The Cowboys scored first when Stanton doubled and scored on Chavez's RBI single in the bottom of the first. Before the triple by Chavez in the second, senior
Mike Sordia scored on senior
Andrew Ratterman's single to open up a Highland's 2-0 lead.
The Thunderwolves were retired in order through the first three innings and scored their lone run in the sixth. Lawrence Chavez walked to begin the inning and advanced to third on a one-out single by Anthony Mascorro. Chavez scored on Dominick Bregar's fielder's choice.
Jesse Bristow took the loss in his first decision of the year, allowing six hits and five runs in 1.2 innings of work.
Game one saw the Cowboys score first, but CSU-Pueblo rallied for the 3-1 win. With one out in the fourth, senior
Morgan McCasland doubled. He moved to third on the groundout and scored on Garcia's two-out single. However, CSU-Pueblo tied it up on a home run by Tyler Landrith to leadoff the fifth.
McCasland and Garcia both had three hits for the Cowboys in game one. Junior
Avery Brandon took the loss, allowing three runs (two earned) in 5.1 innings pitched.
After Landrith tied the game for CSU-Pueblo, Chavez singled and moved to second on a passed ball. He was sacrificed to third and scored on Moscarro's single.
Victor Soto (8-1) took the win, allowing eight hits and one run in 4.1 innings pitched.
Highlands outhit the Thunderwolves 11-7 in the game.
New Mexico Highlands returns to action for its final home game of the 2015 season Sunday (April 26) against CSU-Pueblo. First pitch is noon. Shortly before the game, Highlands will release its 2015 Subway Athlete of the Year.
