Pack's RMAC title hopes fade

RMAC Quarterfinal: CSU-Pueblo 8, Nebraska-Kearney 1
RMAC Semifinal: Western New Mexico 5, CSU-Pueblo 2

DENVER, Colo. - CSU-Pueblo saw a chance to earn a berth in the RMAC Championship fade away Friday, falling 5-2 to Western New Mexico in the RMAC semifinals.  Earlier in the day, CSU-Pueblo won their quarterfinal match over Nebraska-Kearney 8-1.

In a "first to five" format in the semifinals, CSU-Pueblo was on the short end of a re-tooled lineup by Western New Mexico, who had split with the ThunderWolves in two meetings this season.  Regular WNMU number-one singles player, Kyle Lynch, dropped to number-two to take on CSU-Pueblo's Ricardo Oaxaca (Jr., Puebla, Mexico), who hadn't lost a singles match in RMAC play this season and had gone 2-0 vs. WNMU's regular number-two, Flavio Rueda.

Lynch, though, halted Oaxaca's win streak, earning a crucial 6-3, 6-2 win.

Another key win came in the number-two doubles match, as Lynch and partner Emmanuel Hecher posted an 8-5 win over Philipp Penkatzki (Bottrop, Germany) and Andres Morales (So., Puebla, Mexico).

Both wins overturned victories CSU-Pueblo had claimed in their most recent matchup with the Mustangs, a 5-4 win by the Pack on April 18.

The loss, though, doesn't doom CSU-Pueblo's season, as the Pack still has a shot to make it to the Central Regional Tournament.  The ThunderWolves were ranked third in the region in the most recent regional rankings (April 1), albeit ahead of then-number four Western New Mexico.  The top six ranked teams in the region earn a berth to regionals.