ALAMOSA – The Alamosa High School baseball team dug a big hole when it hosted Durango on a blustery Saturday game at Ortega Middle School.

The Mean Moose went into their final at-bats trailing 16-3. They made a valiant comeback effort but the rally fell four runs short as Alamosa lost to the Demons 16-12.

Durango took the early lead with four runs in the top of the first inning. Dylan Burns led off with a single and he advanced to second on an error. Austin Romero then received a base on balls, and both runners scored on Jack Englund’s triple.

Landin Padilla reached on another error and Englund scored on the play. Ian Szura and Dawson McInnes both drew walks to load the bases, and Coen Anderson was safe on an error and Padilla came home on the play.

The Mean Moose scored once in their half of the first. Carlos Garcia walked and took second on Nelson Arambula’s groundout. Gus West’s single plated Ryan Higareda who was courtesy running for Garcia to cut the deficit to 4-1.

The Demons scored two runs in the second. Romero started the rally with a single and three wild pitches allowed him to score.

Ollie Anderson reached on a fielder’s choice and he came home on Szura’s single.

Durango put another run on the board in the third. Cully Freeney had a leadoff single and he stole second. Tate Rose walked, and Romero singled home Freeney for a 7-1 lead.

Alamosa answered with a run in the bottom of the third. Arambula and West both singled, and Jonah Pittman was hit by a pitch to fill the sacks. Xavier Lujan’s sacrifice fly plated Arambula to bring the Mean Moose within 7-2.

The Demons tallied two more runs in the fourth. Szura began things with a double and McInnes singled to bring home Szura. Errors allowed McInnes to score.

Durango scored once in the fifth. Burns led off with a single and stole second. He scored on Rose’s single for a 10-2 advantage.

The Mean Moose scored a run in the bottom of the sixth. Brennan Maez got on base on a fielder’s choice and he stole second.

Tony Griego drove Maez home with a single to bring Alamosa within 10-3.

Durango had another big inning in the seventh as it scored six runs. Burns reached on an error to begin the inning and Rose was hit by a pitch. Romero drew a walk to load the bases, and Burns scored on a wild pitch.

Anderson walked to again fill the sacks, and Szura singled home Rose and Romero. Kam Lucero was hit by a pitch, and Anderson walked to drive home Anderson.

Burns’ single plated Szura and Lucero for a 16-3 Durango lead.

The Alamosa rally in the bottom of the seventh began with Arambula and West receiving walks and Pittman reaching on a fielder’s choice to load the bases. Lujan singled home Arambula and West, and Jaidyn Burciaga’s double brought home Pittman. A.J. Mackey, who was pinch-running for Lujan, scored on a wild pitch to cut the deficit to 16-7.

Jayden Mizokami singled home Burciaga, and Griego was hit by a pitch. Jo David, who was pinch-running for Mizokami scored on Garcia’s groundout.

Arambula’s single plated Griego, and after West singled, Pittman singled home Arambula and West.

The Mean Moose put another runner on base as Lujan was hit by a pitch, but the final two runners were left stranded as the game ended.

Kiko Ruybal was Alamosa’s starting pitcher and he was dealt the loss. He allowed 10 runs and nine hits and he struck out two and walked five. West went to the mound in the fifth and he gave up six runs and two hits with three strikeouts, three walks and two hit batters.

The Mean Moose had 11 hits and were led by Arambula who went 3-4 with one RBI, and West who went 3-4 with one RBI.

Alamosa (1-11) will open Intermountain League play on Saturday as it will host Bayfield. The first game begins at 11 a.m.

Durango 16, Alamosa 12

Durango 421 210 6 – 16 11 2

Alamosa 101 001 9 – 12 11 7

Freeney (W), Lucero (5), McInnes (7), Rypkema (7) and Szura. Ruybal (L), West (5) and Garcia.