Cowboys take two from FHSU, complete four-game sweep

LAS VEGAS, N.M. --- The New Mexico Highlands baseball team capped off a four-game sweep of Fort Hays State on Saturday with a doubleheader sweep of the Tigers, 12-8 and 5-3  – including a dramatic finish in the finale at Brandt Field.
 
The Cowboys (4-4) were tied with FHSU (0-5) 3-3 heading into the sixth inning of the seven-inning contest in Saturday's finale before Aidan McNichol hit a one-out single, Kaleb Whitlock entered to pinch run and took second on a passed ball and Cody Reilly singled Whitlock home to give the Cowboys a 4-3 lead. After a wild pitch moved Reilly to second, Thomas Wisneski singled up the middle to score Reilly and give NMHU a 5-3 lead.
 
Kalen Hammer did the rest, tossing a perfect seventh inning and picking up his first win of the season (he went 1.2 innings). Tyler Winkler got the start, going 5.1 innings and giving up three runs on six hits with three strikeouts and a walk.
 
Carlos Ramirez led the Cowboys at the plate, going 3-for-3 with a home run and two RBI while Gaylan Young went 2-for-3 with a double, run and RBI and Aidan McNichol was also 2-for-3.
 
The first game Saturday had a wild first five innings as the Cowboys used a four-run first, a five-run fifth and three-run fourth to build a 12-6 lead before the Tigers scored two more in the top of the fifth to cut the NMHU lead to 12-8.
 
But that's the last either team scored as Cowboy relievers Jacob Padilla (2.2 innings pitched and picked up the win), Sergio Lucero (1.2 innings) and Carl Shonrock (0.1 innings – picked up the save with two on and the tying run on deck) pitched a scoreless final 4.2 innings to hold of FHSU.
 
Auggie Francis led the Cowboys at the plate, going 3-for-3 with a double, triple, three RBI and two stolen bases, Justin DeHoog went 2-for-5 with two doubles, three RBI and a run while Ramirez and Garrett Hammer drove in two runs apiece.
 
The Cowboys are don't play again until traveling to take on Lubbock Christian on Feb. 19.