Ramirez blasts 2 HRs to lead NMHU past No. 1 Mavs, split doubleheader

GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. --- Carlos Ramirez hit a pair of homers and drove in six runs while J.T. Mossberg tossed five strong innings as the Cowboys upended top-ranked Colorado Mesa 7-6 to split a doubleheader with the Mavericks on Friday at Suplizio Field.
 
In the game two win for NMHU, a Gaylan Young homer in the first inning and three-run homers by Ramirez in the third (to left field) and fifth innings (to right center) helped the Cowboys (15-26 overall, 8-19 RMAC) build a 7-1 lead on CMU (33-8, 21-6).
 
The Mavs chipped away as back-to-back solo homers in the bottom of the fifth and a two-run homer and another solo shot in the sixth cut the Cowboys' lead to 7-6 heading into the seventh and final inning.
 
But Kalen Hammer – who entered to get the final out in the sixth – closed the door on the Mavericks by tossing a scoreless seventh to pick up his second save of the season.
 
The sidearmer Mossberg picked up the win (he's 3-2 on the season) by going five innings and giving up three runs on six hits with three strikeouts and three walks.
 
Ramirez finished the game 2-for-3 with two homers and six RBI, Young finished 3-for-4 with a homer and three runs while Joe Cilladi went 2-for-4 with a run.
 
The teams combined for nine home runs in the game as all but one of the runs in the contest were scored via the long ball.
 
NMHU nearly swept the doubleheader as a rally in the seventh inning fell just short as the Cowboys lost to the Mavericks 3-2.
 
The Cowboys trailed 3-0 heading into the seventh and final inning – and hadn't even gotten a hit off of CMU starter Andrew Morris (who finished with 11 strikeouts) until Carlos Ramirez hit a one-out bloop single to left. Following a fielder's choice, Justin DeHoog walked and Garrett Hammer ripped an RBI single to right to make it 3-1 Mavs.
 
After a pitching change, Kalen Hammer hit the first pitch he saw for an RBI single to make it 3-2 CMU. But that's as close as the Cowboys got as a strikeout ended the rally and the game.
 
Kyle Bedsole pitched a strong game for the Cowboys, going distance and giving up three runs (two earned) on five hits with four strikeouts and a walk.
 
NMHU tries to split the four-game series with the No. 1 Mavs noon Saturday at Suplizio Field.