5/22/2013-
By Karen Boehler
Pecos League writer

ALPINE, Texas -- Taos broke a four-game losing streak on the road in Alpine Tuesday, topping the Cowboys 11-7 in a game where both teams played strong early, but Alpine struggled down the stretch at the plate and on the mound overall.

"We had a good game," said Blizzard manager Matt Leahy. "We ended up beating their pitching tonight. We had 12 hits and nine walks."

The Taos pitchers gave up seven walks themselves, but only allowed nine not-as-timely Cowboy hits.

Both teams scored big early.

Kyle RIchardson and Blair Springfield walked, then Richardson scored on a Brennan May double and both those runners scored on a Chris Constantino single.

The Cowboys got their runs a little more quickly, scoring when Eric Herman homered, Casanova Donaldson walked and scored on a double by Logan Lotti.

Taos kept the scoring going in the second, making it 6-0 when John Apostolo walked, stole second and third and came home on a put out. Khyle Dimino followed that out with a triple and Springfield scored him with a home run.

After that the scoring came a little more slowly.

Taos made it 7-3 in the third when Louie Gonzalez walked and came home on a Richardson single. The Cowboys added another run in the fifth when Hermandoubled and came around on a Brian Milliman single, but Taos came back in the top of the sixth scoring on a Springfield walk and Alpine error.

The fourth Cowboy pitcher of the night gave up back-to-back singles interspersed with two steals by Richardson, who then scored on Diminos hit, then the Blizzard added an insurance run in the ninth when Apostolo walked and came home on a Richardson double.

"We were very patient at the plate," Leahy said. "Let them put us on base and we capitalized on the nine walks."

Herman -- seemingly the only bright spot for Alpine Tuesday (3-for-4, three runs, 2 RBI) -- got the final Cowboy run on his second homer.

Springfield led the way with three walks while Gonzales and Apostolo had two each.

The Blizzard also ran their way to some of those runs, with Richardson 6-for-6 on the base pads, not to mention 3-for-5 at the plate with two runs scored and 3 RBI. Constantino was 3-for-5 with 2 RBI.

"So we did very well stealing and well continue the effort and try to rack up some more stolen bases before we get out of Alpine and head to Santa Fe," Leahy said.

The teams will close out the series Wednesday at 7:05 p.m. CDT.