Mossberg, top of NMHU lineup lead Cowboys to game two win over CSU-Pueblo

LAS VEGAS, N.M. --- Another strong start by J.T. Mossberg and key hitting by the top of the lineup paced the Cowboys past CSU-Pueblo 7-3 in the second game of a doubleheader Saturday at Brandt Field after dropping the first game 9-4.
 
Mossberg allowed just two earned runs over seven innings of work for the Cowboys (16-29 overall, 9-22 RMAC), giving up six hits while striking out four and walking none – needing just 89 pitches.
 
The first four hitters in the lineup for the Cowboys – Auggie Francis, Joe Cilladi, Gaylan Young and Carlos Ramirez) in the second game against the Thunderwolves (22-22, 17-14) went a combined 8-for-14 with three RBI and four runs to pace NMHU.
 
The Cowboys got on the board with a bang in the second as Ramirez blasted the first pitch he saw of the inning well over the fence in the left field to make it 1-0. The Cowboys kept it going in the second as Aidan McNichol hit an RBI single through the right side while fellow true freshman Thomas Wisneski hit a sac fly to make it 3-0.
 
The Thunderwolves cut the NMHU lead to 3-2 on a two-run homer in the fifth, but NMHU scored one via a CSU-Pueblo error in the bottom of the inning and added three more in the sixth before CSU-Pueblo scored an unearned run in the seventh to make the final 7-3.
 
Francis, Cilladi, Young and Ramirez all finished with a pair of hits for the Cowboys.
 
In the first game of the day, NMHU took a 1-0 lead in the second on a Cody Reilly RBI single in the second inning and held that 1-0 lead into the fifth inning before CSU-Pueblo scored three in the fifth, one in the sixth and five in the seventh to take a 9-1 lead. Young ripped a two-run double and Eloy Reyna added an RBI single in the seventh to make the final 9-4.
 
Young finished 2-for-3 with two RBI and a run, Ramirez went 2-for-4 with a run and Reilly finished 2-for-3 with an RBI. Kaleb Whitlock got the loss, going four innings and giving up three runs on two hits with two strikeouts and six walks.
 
The Cowboys and Thunderwolves play the series finale at noon Sunday at Brandt Field with NMHU's nine seniors set to be honored prior to the game at 11:45 p.m.