New Mexico Highlands defeated Colorado Christian 9-6 on Sunday as the hosts claimed the series win, taking three out of four games in Las Vegas, NM.
 
For the third time in the series Christian scored in the first inning to take an early lead, but for the third time in the series it was a lead they failed to protect. The Cowboys hit Cougar starter Daniel Bednarski hard, putting up four runs in the bottom half of the first and six total before the junior's day was cut short at 3.2 innings pitched.
 
CCU hitting leaders Zach Scott and Dustin Conley were productive yet again Sunday. Scott's single and Conley's ground out scored the first two for Christian.
 
Trailing in the third inning, Taylor Dudley connected on his team-leading sixth home run of the season-- a two-run shot that pulled the Cougars to within a run of Highlands.
 
A NMHU score in the fourth gave the hosts a two-run advantage but CCU answered a half inning later. Dustin Conley, who extended his hitting streak to nine games, doubled to right field scoring Scott and Dudley to pull the Cougars even.
 
Much like Saturday's games, though, the Cowboys had a response for everything Christian could throw at them. Highlands reclaimed the lead in the fifth on a run-scoring bunt single, and got two crucial insurance runs in the eighth to produce the score that would eventually become final. Michael Cantrell, on in relief of Bednarski was credited with his first loss, while Danny Graves allowed two runs in two innings of work.
 
CCU returns home to All-Star Park next weekend with stiff competition arriving. The Cougars will play host to #1 Colorado Mesa in Lakewood for a pair of doubleheaders. The four-game set against the Mavericks begins Friday at noon.