Cowboys earn split in Abilene

A three-run eighth inning completed a successful comeback for New Mexico Highlands’ baseball team in a 5-4 triumph Sunday at Abilene Christian. The win came in the finale of a four-game series and forged a series split for the Cowboys (3-5 overall).

The teams split on both days of the weekend series, with Abilene winning games one and three, 15-5 and 5-0, and Highlands taking two and four, 11-1 and 5-4.

The last game was a clutch win for coach Steve Jones and his team.

Oscar Almeida held ACU to two runs — one earned — on three hits over the last four innings to earn his first pitching win of the year. He relieved starter Braulio Hernandez, who had a solid outing, allowing two runs on five hits through five frames.

Abilene led 4-2 going into the eighth. Then Chris Pile hit a solo home run to left field. After Derek Ward got on with a walk, Cory Falvey tripled to tie the game. Cole Davis connected on the game-winner with an RBI single.

Almeida didn’t give up any base runners through the last two innings.

In NMHU’s 11-1 win on Saturday, Greg Hansen (1-1) pitched a gem, shackling ACU for just three hits and one unearned run in seven complete innings of work.

Highlands’ Jordan Goliat went 3 for 3 and scored four times, Josh McMahon 2 for 3 with three RBI, Jarred Middleton 3 for 4 with two RBI, and Scott Frazier 3 of 5.

• • •

Cowgirl softball lost Sunday’s first game with league foe Colorado Mesa by an 11-6 count and battled to a 5-5 stalemate in the second game, called due to weather.

NMHU is 6-8-1, 3-0-1.