PUEBLO, Colo. (March 6, 2015) ~ The Colorado State University-Pueblo baseball team jumped out to a 3-0 lead, but two runs in both the sixth and seventh innings pushed the New Mexico Highlands Cowboys to a 4-3 victory Friday at Rawlings Field.

The loss snaps the ThunderWolves six-game winning streak and drops their record to 10-3 overall and 2-1 in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference contests. Highlands improves to 7-4 on the season and 1-0 in league tilts.

Tyler Rich (Jr., Colton, Calif.) suffered the loss out of the bullpen for the ThunderWolves to fall to 1-1. Highlands' starting pitcher Phil Trujillo earned the win to improve to 2-1 on the year, while Morgan McCasland earned his second save of the season.

CSU-Pueblo starter Zac Wittmus (Sr., Brighton, Colo.) tossed six innings, gave up two runs on four hits and struck out seven batters.

The Pack outhit the visitors, 11-7, but left seven runners on base compared to just three for the Cowboys.

Mike Wagner (Sr., Golden, Colo.) notched his fourth four-hit game of the season, going 4-for-4 with a run scored for the Pack. Beau Cebulski (Jr., Las Animas, Colo.) added a pair of hits. Lawrence Chavez (Sr., Estancia, N.M.) and Shane Fessel (Jr., Aurora, Colo.) each tallied a RBI.

The ThunderWolves plated the first runs of the game in the bottom half of the second inning. Wagner led off the frame with a single to right field. The next batter, Manny Menocal (Jr., Las Vegas, Nev.), walked and Wagner moved up to third on a throwing error by the catcher. Fessel chased Wagner home with a ground out and Menocal eventually scored on a sacrifice fly by Chavez to give the Pack an early 2-0 advantage.

CSU-Pueblo tacked on an unearned run in the bottom of the fifth inning to extend its lead to 3-0. Cebulski led off the inning with a single to centerfield and later scored when the right fielder miss handled a double in the gap by Austin Mascorro (Sr., Oxnard, Calif.).

The Cowboys climbed back in the contest with a pair of runs in the top of the sixth frame. Highlands had a third run snuffed out at home plate. With one out and a runner at third base, Nick Gonzales bounced a ball to the third baseman Menocal. Menocal fielded the ball and cut down Colby Wilmer at the plate.

In the top of the seventh inning, Highlands pushed across two more runs to take a lead, 4-3.

Trailing 4-3, the Pack had opportunities to score in their final three at bats, but left five runners on base as the Cowboys held on for the 4-3 win.

The series continues Saturday with a doubleheader, beginning at 1 p.m.

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As a member of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, Colorado State University – Pueblo competes in 22 varsity sports in NCAA Division II intercollegiate athletics.