LAS VEGAS, N.M. --- The New Mexico Highlands baseball team split a doubleheader Wednesday, dropping the first game 7-4 and winning the second game 6-2, to take the four-game series 3-1 from Minot State at Brandt Field.
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In the first game, the Cowboys (7-5) struggled to get their bats going as they fell behind 7-0 after a three-run fourth, a three-run fifth and a run in the sixth by the Beavers (1-5). NMHU got going in the sixth inning as a lead-off single by
Joe Cilladi, a one-out single by
Aidan McNichol and a walk loaded the bases before
Lance MacDonald hit a pinch-hit, RBI groundout to make it 7-1.
Justin DeHoog then ripped a two-out, two-run single to cut the Minot State lead to 7-3 before the Beavers got out of the inning.
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The Cowboys added another run in the seventh after an
Auggie Francis triple and a Cilladi RBI groundout, but that was it as NMHU fell 7-4.
Kaleb Whitlock picked up the loss, going 4.2 innings and giving up six runs on seven hits with five strikeouts and three walks.
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NMHU in game two again fell behind after Minot State scored a pair of runs in the top of the first. But the Cowboys bounced back with a run in the first on a
Gaylan Young RBI single and two runs in the second thanks to a McNichol RBI double and a
Nico Martinez RBI single to give NMHU a 3-2 lead.
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It was enough for the Cowboy pitching staff as
Tyler Winkler settled down after the first and went six innings to pick up the win – giving up two runs on eight hits with four strikeouts and a walk.
J.T. Mossberg pitched the final three innings to pick up the save, giving up two hits and no runs.
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NMHU picked up insurance with two runs in the fifth on RBI singles from Young and
Garrett Hammer and another in the eighth on a McNichol RBI single to make the final 6-2.
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McNichol led six NMHU players that had multiple hits by going 3-for-4 with two RBI, two doubles and a run. Francis went 2-for-4 with a double, triple and two runs, Young was 2-for-4 with two RBI and a run, Martinez finished 2-for-4 with an RBI and
Kalen Hammer went 2-for-4 with a double.
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The Cowboys open RMAC play 2 p.m. Friday as they travel to take on Colorado School of Mines in Golden, Colorado.
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