The Colorado Mesa University baseball team could not get the job done and win the series on Saturday against New Mexico Highlands University (NMHU) and the Mavericks had to settle with a series split with the Cowboys.

NHMU unleash the bats in the second inning, scoring seven runs and creating a deficit CMU was unable to overcome losing 9-4.

Nick Cardinale found trouble early in the game for the Mavericks. Cardinale issued three free passes in the first inning, leading to a run coming in on a fielder’s choice off the bat of Carlos Ramirez. Another two walks were issued in the second inning from Taylor Dye, and then the wheels truly fell off.

Dye struggled with command as the Cowboys scored on a passed ball. With runners on second and third, Garrett Hammer poked a two-run single to right giving the Cowboys a 5-0 lead. After another walk that put two runners on, Ramirez delivered a crushing blow, belting a three-run home run to right center to put the Cowboys up 8-0.

Cardinale gave up four runs in 1 ⅓ innings on two hits, and Dye didn’t fare much better, surrendering five runs on seven hits in 4 ⅔ innings. Cardinale only faced 10 batters, striking out one with just two groundouts.

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Jordan Stubbings homered for the second straight game in the 8th inning, his fourth of the year, which ties him for the team lead with four. Hunter Douglas extended his hitting streak to nine games going 3-for-4 and delivering an RBI single in the ninth that scored Tanner Rempel. Douglas went 8-for-16 during the four-game series.

The Mavericks pounded out 10 hits in the game, matching the Cowboys’ mark, but were unable to sustain rallies, leaving runners on base in the fifth, seventh and ninth innings.

The loss moves the Mavericks to 21-8 and 12-4 in the RMAC.

CMU will play a pair of two-game series as they continue their road trip next weekend in Golden. The Mavericks face Colorado Christian on April 6 and 7 and play Colorado School of Mines on April 7 and 8.