PUEBLO, Colo. (April 9, 2022) – A late rally that fell short and an unlucky inning led to Colorado State University Pueblo baseball (20-17, 11-8 RMAC) dropping both ends of a doubleheader against New Mexico Highlands (12-23, 7-11 RMAC), 10-8 and 7-2. 
 
Game 1 | NMHU 10 – CSU Pueblo 8
 
In the opening game of the doubleheader, the Pack and Cowboys looked to be in a defensive showdown at first. Each side of the first inning and a half were retired in straight order.
 
The Pack were able to make the opening strike in the second inning, as Ty Lewis doubled his way on base and was later able to score of a double from Kysen Howard. The 1-0 advantage carried into the fourth when the Cowboys offense struck. 
 
A Cowboys RBI single broke the shutout and was soon followed up by a triple and double that would push across a total of four runs in the inning. In the bottom frame, a Matt Shea single to right center scored Brady Prewitt from second base to take the game into the fourth with the ThunderWolves trailing 4-2.
 
Unfortunately for the ThunderWolves, New Mexico Highlands' offense was not done scoring. The Cowboys crossed three more runs in the top of the fifth and put the Pack in a tough 7-2 hole. After a silent bottom frame, Highlands tacked on three more runs off a homer to left and put the ThunderWolves against the wall, trailing 10-2 headed into the sixth.
 
Lewis and Shea kicked off the bottom frame with a walk and an error to put two runners aboard with no outs. Howard stepped up for CSU Pueblo and smacked a single to center that crossed Lewis and Shea to reenergize the ThudnerWolves' bats. Noah Hennings took care of Howard and tallied a double down the leftfield line to pull the Pack up to a 10-5 deficit after six innings.
 
Pitcher Ruben Portillo took care of the Cowboys with ease in the seventh and gave the Pack one more chance to strike in the bottom.
 
Prewitt made his way aboard via base on balls and was followed up by Trey Vasquez who was hit by a pitch. Lewis came through for the ThunderWolves and batted a ball down the right field line to score the pair and put the Pack behind 10-7 and no outs. Shea moved Lewis over with another single and put the tying run at the plate.
 
With one out, Jaden Hill came in as a pinch hitter and moved Lewis home off a sacrifice fly to deep center. Unfortunately, the Cowboys were able to stifle the rally by the Pack and seal the CSU Pueblo loss 10-8.
 
Howard finished the opening game 3-4 with three RBIs to lead the Pack while Lewis batted 2-2 with two RBIs and three runs scored. Portillo struck out five batters off 2.2 innings pitched out of the bullpen.
 
Game 2 | NMHU 7 – CSU Pueblo 2
 
The second game of the afternoon was not as slow to see offense take shape. Highlands kicked off the second game with a triple to center and a two-run first inning. Prewitt logged. A double in the bottom half but the ThunderWolves were unable to capitalize and thus sent the game into the second behind 2-0.
 
Another run was tacked on for the Cowboys in the second, but this time the Pack had an answer. Howard continued his hot-streak with a one-out double and was followed up by Hill who drew a walk. After a wild pitch, Manny Sierra was able to smack a single through the right side and score both Howard and Hill. The two-run single brought the Pack back into contention after two innings of play.
 
The tight 3-2 ballgame continued on into the fifth inning after strong middle inning work by Edwing Corrales. 
 
The fifth saw Highlands load the bases and score two runs but the Pack were able to dampen the no-out opportunity with back-to-back excellent defensive plays from Kolton Miller and Lewis.
 
The 5-2 Pack deficit carried into the seventh after a hitless fifth inning and a sixth that featured a lone Howard double. Unfortunately for the Pack, the Cowboys tacked on two more insurance runs in the top of the seventh and thwarted comeback hopes by the ThudnerWolves.
 
CSU Pueblo fell 7-2 in the second game to seal its first series loss of the season. 
 
Howard once again led game two with two doubles while Sieera accounted for the two RBIs. Reggie Williams was able to extend his hitting streak to 12 consecutive games after slapping a single in the bottom of the seventh.
 
CSU Pueblo looks to claim a win Sunday afternoon in the series finale with New Mexico Highlands. First pitch to the finale is set for 1 p.m. at Rawlings Field against the Cowboys.