Las Vegas, New Mexico - New Mexico Highlands erupted for 19 runs across two games and extended its streak to three consecutive complete games on the mound to sweep Saturday's RMAC doubleheader from Adams State at Brandt Field. The Cowboys improved to 9-32 overall and 4-19 in conference play, while the Grizzlies fell to 10-31 overall and 5-18 in the RMAC.
Game 1: New Mexico Highlands 15, Adams State 4
New Mexico Highlands broke the game open with a massive second inning and never looked back in a 15-4 rout in the opener.
Trailing 2-1 entering the bottom of the second, the Cowboys sent 14 batters to the plate and scored nine runs to take control. RBI singles from
Adrian Castenada,
Alex Galvan, and
Johnathan Davis highlighted the inning, while
Ryan Rodriguez added an RBI double.
Truett Ross drove in two more runs on an error, and
Taiga Sato capped the frame with an RBI ground out.
New Mexico Highlands continued to add on late, plating five runs in the sixth inning. Sato delivered an RBI double before Isaac McNair-Seigler added a run-scoring single.
Nico Hilger provided the biggest swing of the day with a three-run home run to push the lead to 15-3.
New Mexico Highlands pounded out 16 hits in the game, led by Galvan's 4-for-5 performance. Rodriguez finished 3-for-4, while Hilger recorded two hits and four RBI. McNair-Seigler scored three times, and Marrujo added two hits and two runs.
On the mound,
Ramon Brion was steady in a complete-game effort, allowing four runs (three earned) on eight hits while striking out four.Â
Game 2: New Mexico Highlands 4, Adams State 2
The Cowboys completed the sweep with a more tightly contested 4-2 victory in game two, backed by their third consecutive complete-game performance of the series.
Adams State struck first with single runs in the second and third innings to take a 2-0 lead, but New Mexico Highlands responded in the fifth.
Nico Hilger scored on a wild pitch to put the Cowboys on the board before
Alex Galvan tied the game with an RBI single.
Seth Galfano followed with a sacrifice fly to give New Mexico Highlands a 3-2 advantage.
Tamden Webb-Tate provided an insurance run in the sixth inning, launching a solo home run to extend the lead to 4-2.
Anthony Reyes took care of the rest, tossing a complete game and limiting the Grizzlies to two runs on six hits. He worked efficiently throughout, inducing key outs and allowing just one walk in the victory.
At the plate, Galvan continued his strong day with two hits and an RBI, while Castenada and Hilger each recorded two hits. Webb-Tate's home run accounted for the Cowboys' lone extra-base hit of the game.
The series concludes Sunday with a 12:00 pm first pitch in historic Las Vegas, New Mexico.
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