Vaqueros Edge Osos 9-8

June 18 2011 The Las Cruces Vaqueros defeated the Ruidoso Osos 9-8 in a back-and-forth game at Apodaca Park. Las Cruces collected 17 hits and scored in six innings, while Ruidoso finished with 12 hits and two errors. Las Cruces took an early 1-0 lead in the first inning before Ruidoso answered with three runs in the second. The Vaqueros added two runs in the third and one in the sixth, then created separation with a three-run seventh inning. Ruidoso scored twice in the seventh, once in the eighth and twice in the ninth, but could not complete the comeback. Henry Fuentes powered the Las Cruces offense with two home runs, two hits, two runs and three RBI. Bo Bell went 3-for-6, while Harry Williams Jr. also had three hits and drove in two runs. Clint Stroud added two hits and an RBI, and Tristan Smith contributed an RBI. For Ruidoso, Alan Gatz hit a home run and drove in three runs while also pitching 6.2 innings with seven strikeouts. Chris Juarez went 2-for-4 with a triple and an RBI, and Eddie Browne and Jerome Dunning each collected two hits. Sean Proni and Case Rigby also drove in runs. Mike Duckworth earned the win for Las Cruces after allowing four hits and three runs, two earned, in two innings. Luis Carreras started for the Vaqueros and worked seven innings, allowing eight hits and five runs while striking out six. Josue Iniguez took the loss for Ruidoso after allowing one run in 1.2 innings.