Last weekend pitted the CMU baseball team (21-9, 15-5 RMAC) against the RMAC leading New Mexico Highlands where the high-powered offense of the Cowboys faced off against the league-leading pitching staff of the Mavericks.

“This is a big series because beating Highlands would not only help us in the RMAC, but also in a possibility of hosting a regional tournament. With a great team performance we can solidify our position in the RMAC,” middle infielder Braden Box said.

On Friday, the Cowboys got the best of Nolan Snell, who allowed seven runs on 10 hits in his 5.1 innings of work. Dakota Behr, Jeremy Ortiz and Cody Lahman all came in relief, allowing four runs on five hits and striking out one with Lahman picking up the loss. Despite the hot bats of New Mexico Highlands the Mavs were able to maintain a lead until the sixth inning when Highlands took a 7-6 lead after being down 6-4 in the frame. Jeff Popick put CMU back on top in the seventh inning with a two-run home run to left center, but the lead was erased by the Cowboys, scoring two in the bottom of the inning. The battle continued into the eighth where the Mavs took the lead 10-9, only to be taken back by Highlands, who won 11-10.

Dustin Fackrell finished the game 4-5 with two RBI’s and Box went 3-4, adding an RBI.

In the first game of Saturday’s doubleheader, Highlands scored seven runs in the first three innings. The Mavs lost 8-6, stranding nine people on base.

Jared Christensen started the game for the Mavs and threw a complete game, giving up six runs on 12 hits while striking out four. Austin Kaiser led the Mavs going 2-3 with an RBI and a run scored, and Nate Robertson finished the game 1-4 with two RBI’s.

In game two Saturday, the Mavs picked up a 9-3 victory. Dylan Evans got the start for the Mavs, pitching 5.2 innings and holding Highlands to just three runs on eight hits and striking out seven. Benham got the save, throwing 1.1 innings, allowing no runs and two hits. Colton Schoelkopf finished the game 3-3 with an RBI single while Box went 3-5 with an RBI and two runs scored.

The Mavs hoped to even out the series in Sunday’s game, and they did, winning the game 11-3. Garrett Carpenter pitched eight complete innings while giving up one run on three hits and striking out five.

“It was great to have him throw a game as well as he did,” Box said. “Initially, we scored in the first trying to get him to feel confident but in the end we were feeling the confidence.”

The Mavs were able to back Carpenter’s performance up with their bats on 13 hits. The Mavs led led by as much as nine during the game. Fackrell accounted for five of the Mavs’ nine runs, going 3-5 with three RBI’s and two runs scored. Popick finished 2-4 with two RBI’s and two runs scored.

The Mavs moved their record to 21-9 on the season and await Nebraska-Kearney on Thursday where they hope to improve on their 15-5 record in the RMAC.