April 20, 2008

Pack's playoff hopes slip, loses to Kearney

KEARNEY, NEB. - The ThunderWolves missed an opportunity to maintain a lead over New Mexico Highlands for the sixth and final RMAC playoff spot, losing 17-9 to Nebraska-Kearney and seeing their lead over the Cowboys dwindle to just one game.

The ThunderWolves, who desperately needed a win after Highlands defied conventional odds to sweep a doubleheader Saturday with nationally-ranked Mesa State, were faced with the prospect of Highlands tying the Pack with another win over Mesa State today.

On the ThunderWolves' end, they had a good opportunity to upend the Lopers absolutely explode in their faces. After building a 3-0 lead after three innings as starting pitcher Matt Davitt held the Lopers hitless, Kearney woke up. The Lopers put up six runs in the fourth inning and seven runs in the fifth to break the game wide open and dash any of the ThunderWolves' inclinations that they may pull off a win.

Trailing 16-4 in the eighth, the ThunderWolves made some noise with a five-run inning, but couldn't dent the Lopers' lead any further. The bulk of the Pack's offensive effort came from catcher Ryan Wager, who went 2-for-4 with 4 RBI, jacking his first homer of the season, a two-run shot in the second inning.

The ThunderWolves, only salvaging one win in the four-game series with Kearney, will engage the RMAC's top team, Metro State, Tuesday in a non-conference doubleheader at Rawlings Field before their final two series of the season, first at Colorado Mines then at home against Regis May 1-3.