LAS VEGAS, NEW MEXICO — In the Grizzlies Friday night game against New Mexico Highlands, Adams State falls by a final score of 12-0. The Grizzlies loss puts them at a record of 10-29(5-16 RMAC).
New Mexico Highlands wasted no time setting the tone, plating four runs in the opening frame and never looking back. The Cowboys followed with two more in the second and three in the third, quickly building a 9–0 cushion that put Adams State on its heels for the remainder of the contest.
The early surge was fueled by a relentless Highlands lineup that tallied 14 hits on the day. Leading the charge was Lubby Marrujo, who delivered a perfect 4-for-4 performance at the plate, including three doubles and five RBIs. Marrujo consistently found gaps and drove in runs during the decisive early innings, anchoring an offense that saw contributions throughout the order.
On the mound for New Mexico Highlands, Andrew Baltazar turned in a dominant complete-game performance for Highlands. The right-hander scattered just three hits across seven shutout innings, striking out three and allowing only one walk. He kept Adams State off balance all afternoon, limiting hard contact and erasing any chance of a Grizzlies rally.
For the Grizzlies, they struggled to generate offense, managing just three hits — one each from Christian Altamirano, Ayden Tauscher, and Isaiah Pruitt. The Grizzlies were unable to string together quality at-bats, leaving seven runners on base and failing to produce an extra-base hit.
The game's outcome was largely shaped by the first two innings, where Adams State starter Julian Garza surrendered six runs on eight hits over two frames. Connor Kerns provided some stability in relief, working 4.2 innings, but the damage had already been done as Highlands continued to add insurance runs late, including three more in the seventh. For Kerns, he had an outstanding appearance finishing with a final line of 4 ⅔ innings, allowing 6 runs(3 earned), while striking out one.
Defensively, three Adams State errors further compounded the challenge, extending innings and allowing Highlands to maintain offensive pressure. In the end, it was a complete performance from New Mexico Highlands — timely hitting, efficient pitching, and clean defense — while Adams State was left searching for answers after being shut out and held to minimal offensive production.
The Grizzlies will look to regroup and respond as the series continues tomorrow with a Saturday doubleheader. Tomorrow's first game will begin at noon MST with the second game of the doubleheader following 30 minutes after the conclusion of game one. Adams State will aim to clean up early-inning execution and find more consistency at the plate seeking to win two huge games to help them gain ground in the conference standings.
