ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – The Colorado State University Pueblo baseball squad split Saturday's double-header on the road vs. New Mexico Highlands University in a matchup that was played at the University of New Mexico.

With the 1-1 Saturday outing, the Pack have now improved their record to 15-7 overall, and 4-2 in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference play. New Mexico Highlands improves their overall record to 5-15 overall, and 1-1 in RMAC play.

New Mexico Highlands took the first game on Saturday 13-3, while the Pack took game two 9-1. CSU Pueblo remains with the best overall record in the RMAC despite the split.

GAME ONE
Game one was an unusual performance for the Pack as senior pitcher Tyler Curtis (Las Vegas, Nev./Southern Idaho) struggled for the first time this season. Curtis has put the entire RMAC on notice as one of the best pitchers in the league, but with the loss today, the hard throwing righty fell to 4-1 on the season.

New Mexico Highlands threw the first punch and never looked back. In the first inning Carlos Chavez hit a homerun down the left field line to put the Cowboys out in front 1-0. The Cowboys continued their hot start when Richie Amavizca singled in a run in the second inning to take a 2-0 lead.

NMHU put the game out of hand in the fourth inning. Oscar Trillo doubled to left field to score two runs. A few batters later, Tanner Hedrick followed that up with a double to right center to put the Cowboys up 5-0. Benito Martinez singled in two more runs, and Taiga Sato singled in two runs as well to put NMHU up 9-0 through four innings.

CSU Pueblo was able to get their first runs across when senior left fielder Christian Castaneda (El Paso, Texas/Otero JC) was able to hit a sac fly to right field. Junior right fielder Elijah Borjas (Denver, Colo./Lakewood) was able to do the do the same thing, hitting a sac fly to right field to score another run and cut the lead to 9-2.

NMHU was able to get more runs across in the seventh and eighth innings as Tucker Simpson doubled in a run as Sato was able to hit a bases clearing double to make the score 13-2.

Castaneda continued his tear to start the year as he hit a solo home run in the ninth to make the score 13-3. Castaneda's home run is an NCAA Division II leading 11 home runs.  

GAME TWO
The second game of the day went much better for the Pack. Junior pitcher Travis Farrell (Las Vegas, Nev./Otero JC) pitched a gem, going six strong innings, just allowing one run, and improving his record to 3-1.

An unusual game one must have sparked a fire for Bobby Applegate's squad as the Pack came out swinging early in game two. Junior shortstop Rob Mansour (LaVerne, Calif./Cuesta College) broke the ice in the second inning as he doubled in two runs down the left field line. Junior center fielder Kade Snodgrass (Derby, Kan./Neosho County) hit a sac fly, and Castaneda singled in a run to put the Pack up 4-0 after two innings.

CSU Pueblo did not let up as junior second baseman Joseph Quintana (Golden, Colo./Erskine College) doubled in two more runs in the third inning to put the Pack up 6-0.

In the fifth inning, freshman Jason Arriola (Riverside, Calif./Norco) hit an RBI groundout to put another run across. Sophomore catcher Cody Macias (San Diego, Calif./Granite Hills) continued the onslaught as he singled in a run, and Snodgrass doubled in a run to end the scoring in the fifth and the Pack led 9-0.

NMHU was able to get one run across in the game in the sixth inning as Sato hit a sac fly to center. That is all the Cowboys could do in the game and CSU Pueblo tool the seven-inning game 9-1.

UP NEXT FOR THE PACK
Both teams will be back at it tomorrow with another double-header. First pitch will be at Noon MT and can be streamed on the RMAC Network. Due to weather, the game will once again be played on the campus of the University of New Mexico.