Cowboys honor seniors prior to home finale, fall to CSU-Pueblo

LAS VEGAS, N.M. --- Early control problems by New Mexico Highlands University pitchers led to big early innings for CSU-Pueblo as the Cowboys dropped their home finale on senior day to the ThunderWolves 14-6 on Sunday at Brandt Field.
 
NMHU (16-30 overall, 9-23 RMAC) walked eight batters and hit another in the first two innings of the game as the Thunderwolves (23-22, 18-14) scored four runs in the first and seven more in the second to take an 11-0 lead.
 
The lead grew to 13-0 after the ThunderWolves scored two more in the third before the Cowboys got on the board in the bottom of the inning with three runs of their own coming on a two-run single from Carlos Ramirez and a sacrifice fly from Eloy Reyna.
 
The score remained 13-3 until the ninth inning when the ThunderWolves added a run in the top of the inning before the Cowboys scored three in the bottom of the frame on RBI hits from Joe Cilladi, Gaylan Young and Reyna.
 
Cameron Polich picked up the loss for the Cowboys, going 0.1 innings and giving up four runs on three this with a walk. Sergio Lucero (3.1 innings – two runs allowed), Tyler Winkler (1.2 innings – no runs allowed), Carl Shonrock (one inning – no runs or hits allowed) and Kalen Hammer (two innings – one run) were solid in relief for NMHU.
 
Auggie Francis led NMHU at the plate, going 3-for-4 with two runs and a stolen base while Cody Reilly went 2-for-5.
 
NMHU celebrated their nine seniors prior to the game: Joe Cilladi, Reyna, Ramirez, Reilly, Kyle Bedsole, Garrett Hammer, Kaleb Whitlock, Justin DeHoog and Francis.
 
The Cowboys close out the season on the road next week as they travel to take on Adams State in a four-game series starting with a doubleheader on Thursday.