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

With the 1-1 Sunday outing, CSU Pueblo and New Mexico Highlands split the series 2-2. The Pack improve their record to 16-8 overall, and 5-3 in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference play. New Mexico Highlands improves their overall record to 6-16, and 2-2 in RMAC play.

CSU Pueblo had full control of both games, but let a late lead slip away in game one, resulting in New Mexico Highlands walking off the Pack to win 11-10. The Pack responded well in game two and won easily 8-3. CSU Pueblo remains with the best overall record in the RMAC despite the split.

GAME ONE
CSU Pueblo started game one off flawlessly and looked like they were going to dominate the game. The Pack struck first in the second inning when sophomore catcher Cody Macias (San Diego, Calif./Granite Hills) hit an RBI single to right field to score junior Brad Stone (Las Vegas, Nev./Southern Nevada) and take a 1-0 lead.

CSU Pueblo continued their hot start in the third inning as the Pack were able to get four more runs across, all with two outs. The Pack were able to get the bases loaded and junior second baseman Joseph Quintana singled to left center to drive in two RBI's. Macias continued his hot start as he tripled down the right field line tow drive in two more runs to put the Pack up 5-0.

New Mexico Highlands was able to get their first run of the game in the bottom half of the third, when Carlos Chavez singled in Benito Martinez after he tripled to cut the lead to 5-1.

The Cowboys were able to chip away at the lead in the fifth and sixth innings. New Mexico Highlands got a run on a throwing error by CSU Pueblo to cut the lead to 5-2. In the sixth, Tanner Hedrick singled to left center to score a run, and Tony Leger singled as well through the left side, and just like that the score was 5-4.

The Pack responded well in the seventh and eighth with three runs. Senior slugger Christian Castaneda (El Paso, Texas/Otero JC) singled in a run to right center and another run came across on an error to put the Pack up 7-4. The Pack got an insurance run in the eighth when Quintana hit a sac fly to left field to give CSU Pueblo a four-run lead.

The Cowboys delivered a deadly punch in the eighth with five runs and take a 9-8 lead late in the contest. With their backs against the wall in the top of the ninth, the Pack got a clutch hit from who else other than Castaneda, as he singled in a run with two outs in the inning, to send it to extras.

The Pack got a run in the 10th when Macias continued his massive day, singling in a run to put the Pack up 10-9.

New Mexico Highlands walked it off in the bottom half of the inning after Tucker Simpson drove in a run to tie the game, and Richie Amavizca was the hero as he singled in the winning run down the left field line to win 11-10.

GAME TWO
CSU Pueblo bounced back once again after losing a game they felt they should have won. The Pack won game two 8-3 to split the series. Sophomore pitcher Luke Ruby (Fort Collins, Colo./Resurrection Christian) as he picked up the win in the shortened seven inning game, pitching four and two-thirds innings, just allowing three runs.

CSU Pueblo struck first once again in game two as they took an early lead in the first inning 3-0. Sophomore Jeremiah Sanchez (Pueblo, Colo./Pueblo West) got the start in center field and led off for Bobby Applegate. Sanchez scored the first run of the game as he scored on an error. Quintana continued his hot series as he doubled in two runs down the right field line, and the Pack took an early lead.

Sanchez drove in another run for CSU Pueblo in the second inning as he singled to right center to put the Pack up 4-0. The Cowboys got their first runs of the game in the third as Leger drove in a run on a fielder's choice. Chavez singled in a run to center field to score Leger and the Pack's lead was dwindled down to 4-2.

The Pack responded in the fourth inning when junior third baseman Kysen Howard (Overland Park, Kan./Blue Valley Northwest) singled to left field to score Sanchez.

The Cowboys once again made it close in the fifth, as Chavez singled in a run to cut the lead down to 5-3.

The Pack showed their resilience in the sixth inning as they put the game away with three more runs. Quintana hit a bunt single and two runs scored on a throwing error by the Cowboys. Freshman Jason Arriola (Riverside, Calif./Norco) got the start in game two and delivered as he delivered the knockout punch as he tripled in a run to put the Pack up 8-3.

Senior pitcher Nick Perry (Denton, Texas/Richland JC) closed out the game for the Pack in the seventh, picking up his third save of the season to give the Pack the five-run victory.

UP NEXT FOR THE PACK
CSU Pueblo travels north this upcoming weekend with a four-game series against Colorado School of Mines in Golden, Colo. First pitch of the series is set for Friday afternoon at 4:00 p.m.