Colorado Springs, Colorado - The bats came alive early and often Friday afternoon as New Mexico Highlands outslugged University of Colorado Colorado Springs, 15-11, in a wild Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference match up at Mountain Lion Park.
New Mexico Highlands (6-21) wasted no time setting the tone, erupting for eight runs in the top of the first inning.
Alex Galvan and
Johnathan Davis each delivered RBI singles, while
Lubby Marrujo capped the rally with a two-run single to right center. By the time the inning ended, NMHU had sent 12 batters to the plate and built an 8-0 lead.
UCCS (22-8-1) answered immediately with a seven-run bottom half, trimming the deficit to 8-7 after one inning.
New Mexico Highlands responded again in the second, plating four runs to regain control. Marrujo struck again with a two-RBI single,
Nico Hilger added an RBI ground out, and Davis lifted a sacrifice fly to push the advantage to 12-7.
From there, New Mexico Highlands continued to add on in key moments.
Ryan Rodriguez drove in a run with a single in the fourth and later doubled home another in the sixth. Galvan capped the scoring for NMHU with an RBI double in the eighth, finishing a strong day at the plate.
UCCS chipped away with runs in the third, fifth, and eighth innings, but could not complete the comeback.
Galvan led the Cowboys offensively, going 4-for-5 with three RBIs, while Davis added three hits and three RBIs of his own. Marrujo drove in a team-high four runs, and Rodriguez contributed three RBIs in the win.
On the mound,
Andrew Baltazar (1-4) earned the victory, battling through five innings while striking out seven.
Cadin Gates provided a solid relief effort, allowing just one run over the final four innings to secure the win.
New Mexico Highlands totaled 14 hits and drew five walks while also being hit by a pitch a season high six times capitalizing on early momentum in a back-and-forth contest that featured 26 combined runs and 28 hits.
The series continues tomorrow with a doubleheader in Colorado Springs, with first pitch scheduled for 12:00 pm.
Â
