COLLEGE BASEBALL; ; GUTCHEWSKY HR LIFTS HIGHLANDS TO VICTORY.

Byline: THE NEW MEXICAN 

The New Mexican

After Kevin Ayers failed to convert the save, Kyle Gutchewsky became the savior for New Mexico Highlands University on Sunday at Brandt Park in Las Vegas.

Gutchewsky hit a solo home run in the bottom of the sixth inning to lift Highlands to a 6-5 victory over the University of Nebraska-Kearney in the second game of a Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference baseball doubleheader.

Highlands won the opener 16-4.

Ayers entered the game in relief of starter Derek Grieve in the top of the sixth, with the Cowboys leading 5-1. But Ayers surrendered a grand slam.

Gutchewsky untied the 5-5 knot when Highlands came to bat, but the drama continued for Ayers in the seventh. Ayers loaded the bases before striking out the final Kearney batter.

With the sweep, the Cowboys improved to 13-7 in the RMAC, 22-13 overall. They've won seven of their last eight conference games, including all four against Kearney (8-12, 11-20).

"That's a big deal for us," Steve Jones, Highlands head coach, said of his team's surge. "It's rewarding to get four wins."

Joe Mulroy finished 2-for-3 with a double and two runs batted in for the Cowboys in the second game. In the opener, the second baseman was 3-for-4 with a home run and four RBIs.

David Bustillos also homered in the opener, part of his 3-for-3. Christian Garcia went 3-for-3.

Gilbert Palacios earned the pitching victory in a route-going performance. Palacios (3-0) scattered seven hits over seven innings. Three of the four runs were earned.

Highlands entertains Eastern New Mexico University on Tuesday for a nonconference game at 2 p.m. The Cowboys return to RMAC play at Colorado School of Mines on Friday.