LAS VEGAS, N.M. – Coming off a huge win over a Division I opponent on Tuesday, the Regis baseball team (16-8, 9-4 RMAC) jumped back into conference play today in a 6-5 losing effort against the New Mexico Highlands University Cowboys (9-15, 5-8 RMAC), snapping their win streak of nine-straight games.

Three players collected at least two hits in the game for the Rangers, but a costly error in the bottom of the ninth allowed the Cowboys to capitalize and pick up the walk-off win.

How it Happened: Junior Garrett Skillings (1-4, HR, 2 RBI's) got things started on Friday afternoon as he launched a solo shot over the right center field fence to give Regis a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning. That lead would hold for a couple innings until NMHU tied the game in the bottom of the fourth. A leadoff double from the Cowboys allowed a one out single to bring that runner in to score.

The Rangers countered with back-to-back doubles from redshirt-sophomore Logan Heflebower (2-4, 2B, RBI) and redshirt-senior Geordy Smith (2-4, 2B, RBI) in the top of the fifth. Heflebower scored from second on Smith's hit and RU had the lead once again 2-1 after the fifth inning.

Regis added an insurance run in the top of the seventh after senior Max Fabricant singled up the middle bringing in junior Chris Kobar (1-4, 2B) who had just doubled to left field, extending their lead to 3-1. The Rangers once again added to their lead in the top of the eighth as both senior Josh Newell (2-5, 2B) and junior Christian Bitar (1-4) crossed the plate to give the visitors a 5-1 lead.

In the bottom of the eighth, things got a little more interesting as the home team thrust themselves back into the game with a three-run homerun to left-field that cut the lead to one run, 5-4. RU loaded the bases with one out in the top of the ninth, but NMHU got a ground ball and turned two to end the inning without any damage.

The Cowboys then got a leadoff single in the bottom of the ninth, sacrificed the runner over, and with two outs an error allowed the runner to score from second base to knot the game at five runs apiece. The batter advanced all the way to third base on the play, and the very next hitter came through with a game-winning single with two outs in the bottom of the ninth.  

Game Notes: Regis committed only one error in the game, but it proved to be costly as it allowed the game-tying, and game-winning runs, to cross the plate. The Rangers outhit the Cowboys 11-10, but they fell one run short in the end. Junior Noah Gotsis picked up a no-decision in his eight innings of work, giving up eight hits, one walk, and four earned runs while also striking out five batters. Junior Patrick Kenny (L, 2-1) was handed his first of the season as both unearned runs in the ninth came while he was on the mound.

Up Next for the Rangers: The team will continue this weekend's series with NMHU playing two games tomorrow, and finishing with the series finale on Sunday.