LAS VEGAS, N.M. --- The New Mexico Highlands baseball team was propelled by a 10-run sixth inning to pull away and hold off Colorado Christian 20-18 in its RMAC opener Friday at Brandt Field.
The Cowboys (3-10 overall, 1-0 RMAC) trailed 11-10 heading into the bottom of the sixth inning before exploding for 10 runs.
Aidan McNichol started the scoring in the frame with an RBI double to tie the game 11-11. After NMHU took the lead on a passed ball,
Brandon Baier made it 14-11 with a two-run double to right center.
Jared Brown followed with an RBI double before
Gavin Gifford hit a two-run homer to make it 17-11.
Cole Lehman capped the scoring in the inning with a three-run home to right center to make it 20-11.
CCU (2-11, 0-1) scored seven runs in the eighth inning to make it a game, but
Hunter Vancurler came in to shut the door over the final 1.1 innings to pick up his first save of the season.
Kalen Hammer picked up the win, going 2.2 innings and giving up seven runs (three earned) on seven hits with two strikeouts and no walks.
Brown led the Cowboys at the plate, going 5-for-6 with two doubles and a home run. Baier finished 3-for-6 with a double, homer and six RBI while McNichol and
Estevan De La O each had three hits (with De La O adding a double and a triple).
The teams meet for a doubleheader 11 a.m. Saturday at Brandt Field.
