LAS VEGAS, N.M. (March 11, 2016) – Down by three runs heading into the eighth inning, Colorado State University-Pueblo baseball rallied to tie the game in the top of the ninth inning.  The Pack could never take the lead as New Mexico Highlands University hit a walk-off home run to escape with a 7-6 win in the bottom of the ninth.

On the walk-off home run, the Pack suffered their first Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference defeat of the season. Their record stands at 10-6 (4-1 RMAC) as they continue to lead the RMAC's Plains Division.

Beau Cebulski (Sr., Las Animas, Colo.) belted four hits in four trips, including his first home run of the season, Cebulski drove in two runs with his dinger.

Senior Jordan Godman (Las Vegas, Nev.) went 2-for-5 at the dish as he extended his hitting streak. Godman now has hit safely  in each of the Pack's 16 games this season. He also swatted his second home run of the season.

Oliver Jackaon (Jr., Mission Viejo, Calif.) clubbed his first home run with the Pack. Jackson went 2-for-5 with a RBI and two runs in a losing effort.

The Pack fell behind early as Highlands scored four runs in the bottom of the first inning. The Cowboys' four-run outburst chased Pack starter Brandon Conlin (Jr., Norco, Calif.).

CSU-Pueblo wasted no time answering Highlands' first inning surge with three runs in the second. Cebulski cranked his homer to drive in Jackson to make it a 4-2 game. Two batters later, Godman left the yard with a solo shot that extended his hitting streak and cut the Cowboys lead to 4-3 after two.

Highlands added to their lead with single runs in the fourth and fifth innings. This gave the Cowboys a 6-3 lead entering the top of the eighth.

In the Pack's half of the eighth, Jackson deposited a pitch over the center field wall. Jackson's solo shot was the first of his Pack career and made it a two-run Cowboy lead entering the bottom of the eighth.

Down two entering the ninth, the Pack responded. It took until the ninth inning, but senior Dominick Bregar (Pueblo, Colo.) extended his hitting streak with a single in the ninth. Bregar's one bagger gives him an 18-game hitting streak dating back to 2015. Like Godman, Bregar has a hit in each of the Pack's 16 games this season.

Justin Willman (Jr., Falcon, Colo.) pinch ran for Bregar. He advanced to third on a missed pick-off attempt. Manny Menocal (Sr., Las Vegas, Nev.) plated Willman one batter later to bring the Pack within one.

With one out and Menocal on second, Taylor Snyder (Jr., Elk Ridge, Utah) smacked a single up the middle to drive in Menocal and tie the game at six. The Pack could not get Snyder home as the game went into the bottom of the ninth tied.

On the first pitch of the bottom of the ninth, Highlands broke the tie and ended the game. Emilio Medina hit a walk off home run that quelled the Pack's rally and gave the Cowboys the 7-6 win.

Tyler Rich (Sr., Colton, Calif.) had tossed 3.2 scoreless innings until his first pitch of the bottom of the ninth. He falls to 1-1 on the season after taking the loss in a relief appearance. Rich only allowed four hits. He struck out two.

The Pack will try to avenge their loss to the Cowboys Saturday when the two teams play a double header beginning at 12 p.m. CSU-Pueblo and Highlands will wrap up their series Sunday with a game that starts at 12 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