Box Score Kearney, Neb. – The New Mexico Highlands baseball team pounded out 19 hits to hold off Nebraska-Kearney, 10-8, Friday afternoon at Memorial Field.

An experienced Cowboys team improves to 11-1 (5-0 RMAC) while a young Loper squad falls to 5-8 (4-1 RMAC). Today's game served as UNK's home opener and also the first time a game was played on Memorial Field's new all-AstroTurf infield.

Always a strong offensive outfit, the Cowboys hit total came off six different Kearney pitchers. Also drawing six walks and getting hit by a pitch twice, Highlands scored two runs in both the first and second innings and scored four more times in the fourth. They did leave the door open by stranding 14 runners on base.

UNK hung around all afternoon as it had 12 hits, nine off one of the top hurlers in the RMAC in senior right hander Greg Fowler (3-1). However, Highlands busted open a 4-3 game by scoring four times in the top of the fourth.  A four-hit inning featured a two-run homer by senior LF Luis Saez (1 for 3, three runs, three RBI's).

The Lopers trailed by one run again, 8-7, only to see the Cowboys add a couple of late insurance runs. And while junior catcher Chandler Klute (Kearney H.S.) hit a solo homer in the bottom of the ninth to drive reliever Jason Sirak (3.0 IP, four K's) from the game, Highlands closer Oscar Almeida faced one batter to record his third save.

For Highlands, senior RF AJ Alexander went 4 for 6 with two RBI's from the two hole, junior CF Matt Gualco went 4 for 6 in the sixth spot and senior 1b Eric Maupin was 3 for 6 with two RBI's.

UNK was paced by junior first baseman Brian Wuest (Prosper, Texas), who went 3 for 4 with four RBI's.

Finally, junior DH Tommy Barnes (Perry Hall, Md.) continued to swing a hot bat as he finished 3 for 5 with junior John Bravard (Lyons, Colo.) allowing one earned run over 2.2 innings in his Loper debut.

The two teams play a double header tomorrow starting at 1:00 p.m.