The University of the Southwest Baseball Team took a break from conference to play host New Mexico Highlands for a four-game set this weekend. The Mustangs were coming off a series win over Jarvis Christian College and were looking to stay on a high note going back into conference games next weekend. Southwest would get a clean sweep of the Cowboys, extending their winning streak to six games and improving their record to 13-8. 
 
Game 1
Pitching was the story of the series opener as USW starter Chisum Rush delivered a strong start, going the full seven innings while only allowing three hits and two runs and striking out eight. The New Mexico native earned his conference-leading fourth win of the year and is currently second in the RRAC in ERA (1.17). 


The Mustangs got their scoring going in the 2^nd inning when Eliazar Torres grounded out to second base to drive in a run. A Kevin Rase single to left field in the third would lead USW off. A sac bunt and stolen base would Rase at third base for Kevan Diaz to drive him home with an RBI single. 
 
Highlands would bring two across in the top half of the 5^th inning to tie the game, but the Mustangs would answer back with a Gavin VanGronigen RBI double in the bottom of the 5^th to make it 3-2. The Mustangs would win it by that score, securing the series opener. 


Game 2
The bats would wake up in the second game of the series. After the first two batters reached, Andru Sanchez would single to drive in Hayden Woods and Kevan Diaz. Next, Steven Martinez would drive in Sanchez for a 3-0 lead. A few batters later, Kevin Rase would single to right field to bring in another run. Diaz would return to the plate after a hit-by-pitch to single in two more for the Mustangs. Hayden Woods would step up and smack a triple to bring in another two runs for USW. Gavin VanGronigen singled to bring in Woods and cap off a substantial 9-run inning for the Mustangs. 
 
Highlands would answer back in the bottom half with a solo shot to left field to make it 9-1. USW replied right back when Elizar Torres singled with two on to bring in a run. Rase grounded out to second base for another RBI, and Torres would later score on a balk to make the score 12-1. 
 
After stringing together four singles in a row in the top of the 4^th, Highlands would bring another across, but not enough to get them into the game once again. 
 
Southwest pushed two more across in the 5^th inning when Andru Sanchez scored on a balk, and Rase singled in Carson Miller and Steven Martinez. Southwest was not done with the scoring, as they would put two more up in the 6^th innings. A walk brought in Diaz, and then pinch hitter Bryan Vasquez would drive in another on a fielder's choice to make it 17-2. 
 
That would be more than enough scoring for starter Cody Stone as the Junior went all seven innings allowing six hits and two runs with four strikeouts and no walks, earning his third win of the year. 
 
Game 3
A change from the series' norm as Highlands would be the first to strike in game three with an RBI single to put them ahead for the first time during the weekend. 
 
It would not last long for the Cowboys as USW would explode in the bottom of the 2^nd for five runs. After a Carson Miller double, Eliazar Torres would single him in to tie the game and advance to second on the throw. Santiago Garcia would bring in Torres after an error from Highlands. Two batters later, Kevan Diaz singled in Garcia to extend it to 3-1. Diaz would steal second, and another error would also bring him in. Gavin VanGronigen would single to bring in the fifth run of the inning for USW.
 
The scoring would be quiet for an inning and a half until Hayden Woods blasted one over the left-field fence for a leadoff home run in the fourth. After a couple of hits and a hit by pitch, Miller would single to left field to bring in two more runs. Garcia came up two batters later and delivered a 2-RBI single to make it a 10-1 ballgame. 
 
Some more scoring from the Mustangs in the 5^th inning with another Torres RBI single. A wild pitch with the bases loaded would bring in another, and Omar Baldenegro would bring in a third run from an error. 
 
Starter Auden Bustamante would have plenty of run support as the Andrews, Texas native would go five innings while only allowing one run and striking out five.
 
Highlands added a couple off reliever Miguel Olivas in the top of the 6^th. The Cowboys pushed two across with the help of a couple of walks and a hit before Olivas could quiet down the bats. 
Jeffrey Mathis would come in to relive Olivas and produce a clean 1-2-3 7^th inning to seal the 13-3 victory for Southwest.
 
Game 4
Highlands would once again jump out in from early in the series finale. After a leadoff walk, sac bunt, and groundout, a two-out single would bring in the game's first run.
 
Just as they had done all weekend, the Mustangs' offense would provide an answer. Kevan Diaz would single to leadoff and steal second base. Gavin VanGronigen would single in Diaz to tie the game at one. Another would score on a double steal later in the inning to give the Mustangs a 2-1 lead. 
 
The Cowboys worked a couple of walks in the top of the 2^nd that would eventually lead to another run on a groundout to shortstop. The bottom half saw the Mustangs' bats get going again. Omar Baldenegro singled to lead off the inning, Kevan Diaz walked, and Hayden Woods singled to the pitcher. Two batters later, Andru Sanchez would hit a ground-rule double to drive in two runners. Steven Martinez singled in two more to extend the lead to 6-2. 
 
The Cowboys would not go away quietly this game as they continued to hang with the Mustangs. A single and double would lead to a run for Highlands, while a ground out the following batter would bring in another run. 
 
Starter AJ Cordova would hold Highlands in the 4^th inning to end his day, allowing two earned runs and striking out four. 
 
After a couple of runners reached for the Mustangs in the 4^th inning, Steven Martinez brought in two after an error from Highlands. 
 
Reliever Caden would come in for Cordova and would allow a leadoff home run but settled in to provide scoreless ball for the next six outs of the game. This would enable USW to continue their pressure on offense with another four runs in the bottom of the 5^th. The Mustangs would get the bases loaded and bring in the first run of the inning with a walk. After a strikeout, Andru Sanchez just missed a grand slam to right field but emptied the bases with a double to make the score 12-5. 
 
Isaac Baeza would relieve Davis in the seventh inning and shut the door for the Mustangs, sealing the series sweep.
 
"Overall, it was nice to get four wins on the weekend," said Head Coach Steve Appel. " It is never easy to sweep, but our guys were able to score some runs throughout the weekend using all facets of the offensive game.  I thought our pitching and defense was solid, and was able to keep them grounded all weekend.  I thought we came out of the gates a little slow, but the guys really responded each game after."  
 
"There were some nice things to see before we hit the road against a good UHV program, and going in with a high is always better when it comes to the preparation week ahead.  We will take the next couple of days off to regroup and get back to work Tuesday morning." 
 
The Mustangs get back into conference play when they travel to take on the University of Houston-Victoria next weekend. Continue to follow USW Athletics and USW Baseball on all social media for scores and updates throughout the season.