Pack bats deliver split with Kearney

Nebraska-Kearney 7, CSU-Pueblo 3
CSU-Pueblo 15, Nebraska-Kearney 7

KEARNEY, NEB. - Pack reserve first baseman Jerry Salazar got a rare nod as the starting first baseman Saturday against Nebraska-Kearney, and he certainly made it count.  The Pueblo native logged 4 RBI in leading the ThunderWolves to a 15-7 win in the Pack's second game, salvaging a doubleheader split.

The ThunderWolves lost the first game 7-3.

Salazar, a Pueblo native from Centennial High School, connected on a two-run single that gave the Pack the early lead and provided the catalyst for a six-run second inning en route to the biggest day of his collegiate career.  Salazar went 3-for-4, connecting on two more RBI singles, to lead the Pack to the win.

Salazar anchored a lineup that saw five hitters get three hits.  One of those three-hit performances came from Pack outfielder Thomas Cordova, who kept up his hot streak, going 5-for-7 against Kearney Saturday and extending his hitting streak to 15 games.

Cordova upped his average against the Lopers in this series to .636, going 2-for-3 in the Pack's 7-4 loss in the day's first game before going 3-for-4 in the second game.

The ThunderWolves' win in the second game was pivotal - the Pack entered the weekend two games ahead of New Mexico Highlands for the sixth and final RMAC playoff spot.  Dropping the first three games would have given Highlands a chance to close the Pack's slim gap.

The ThunderWolves will close their series with Kearney Sunday with a nine-inning game scheduled for noon (CST).