Alva, Oklahoma - New Mexico Highlands battled back to force extra innings, but Northwestern Oklahoma State pushed across the winning run in the bottom of the 14th to hand the Cowboys a 9-8 loss on Friday afternoon.
The Cowboys erased a late deficit and got strong work from its bullpen to extend the game, but the Rangers ended it with a one-out RBI single in the 14th inning.
Northwestern Oklahoma State struck first with two runs in the opening inning, but the Cowboys answered in the second.
Elvis Park drew a bases-loaded walk, and
Truett Ross followed with a two-run single to give Highlands a 3-2 lead.
The Rangers regained the advantage with a pair of runs in the third, but the Cowboys responded again in the fourth. Ross delivered another RBI single,
Rainer Gahagan added a run-scoring hit, and
Seth Galfano brought home a run on a fielder's choice to put New Mexico Highlands in front 6-4.
Northwestern Oklahoma State answered immediately in the bottom of the fourth, using a three-run home run to highlight a four-run inning that gave the Rangers an 8-6 lead.
New Mexico Highlands chipped away in the sixth when
Jeremiah D'Arezzo drove in a run on a fielder's choice, cutting the deficit to one. The Cowboys then tied the game in the ninth as
Tamden Webb-Tate brought home the equalizer with an RBI ground out.
The Cowboys' bullpen took over, pitching nine consecutive scoreless innings using four different pitchers to keep the game tied into the 14th.
The Rangers eventually broke through with a one-out RBI single in the bottom of the inning to end the contest.
Ross led the Cowboys offensively, going 2-for-2 with three RBIs and two runs scored.
Lubby Marrujo added two hits as New Mexico Highlands finished with eight runs on nine hits.
The two teams continue the series on Saturday with first pitch scheduled for 11:00 am (MT).
