Cowboys can't rally all the way back, fall at UCCS

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. --- The New Mexico Highlands baseball team cut a once large deficit to three runs late, but couldn't keep UC Colorado Springs off the board as the Cowboys fell 15-7 Saturday at Mountain Lion Park.
 
NMHU (9-18 overall, 2-12) trailed 10-1 after the Mountain Lions (16-12, 8-6) put up a seven-run fourth inning before the Cowboys started chipping away.
 
Jared Brown got it going in the fifth as he smacked an RBI single before Eloy Reyna hit a two-run double down the right field line to score two and make it 10-4. The Cowboys scored two more in the sixth as Kalen Hammer hit a sacrifice fly and Joe Cilladi hit an RBI single to make it 10-6. The lead was cut to three in the seventh inning after Justin DeHoog grounded out to score Carlos Ramirez and make it 10-7.
 
But UCCS scored three runs in the bottom of the seventh and two more in the eighth while the Cowboys couldn't get a run across to make the final 15-7 – though NMHU did outhit the Mountain Lions 14-13. The Cowboys committed four errors in the contest – leading to three unearned runs for UCCS.
 
NMHU's Cameron Polich got the start and the loss – going 3.1 innings and giving up eight runs on five hits with four walks and a strikeout. Tyler Winkler pitched the final 4.2 innings and gave up seven runs (four earned) on eight hits with two strikeouts and a walk.
 
Cilladi led the Cowboys at the plate, going 4-for-5 with an RBI, two runs and a stolen base. Ryena went 3-for-5 with a double and RBI while Brown was 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run.
 
The teams will complete the four-game series with a doubleheader Sunday starting at 11 a.m.