After an encouraging start to a doubleheader Saturday against the Regis Rangers where the Pack grinded out a win in the first game, 7-2, the team proceeded to lose the second game, 9-3.
Colorado State University-Pueblo got a strong start in game one from pitcher Josh Herback-South, who pitched four innings, allowing only four hits and no runs. Reliever Wes Oliver came on to finish the game, pitching five strong innings, and giving up only two runs.
The Pack got help on the offensive side in the fifth inning when left fielder Jon Proesl belted a solo home run to left field, his third of the year. Third basemen Austin Roff also helped the cause with a two-run homer in the same inning that helped put the ThunderWolves on top 7-1.
That’s all of the help the Pack would need for the remainder of game one. Oliver would pitch the final five innings in the game, allowing two runs on seven hits, with five strikeouts.
“Wes (Oliver) threw strikes, kept the ball down, and did a real good job of mixing pitches,” said coach Stan Sanchez. “He gave us a chance to win.”
Herback-South got credit for the win to start the season off with a 2-0 record.
In game two of the doubleheader the Pack saw starter Joaquin Montano struggle. Montano started the game with a walk, hit-by-pitch, two singles, and a double before he was yanked. Reliever Nate Perlitsch helped the Pack get out of the first inning, but not before Regis scored six runs.
The ThunderWolves would cut the lead to three in the home half of the first inning but would get no closer than that. Regis starting pitcher Gerard Mohrmann pitched a complete seven-inning game, allowing three runs on seven hits.
The Rangers win over the Pack, combined with their 7-6 victory Friday helped Regis take the three-game series.
CSU-Pueblo has struggled with stringing together consecutive wins so far this season. In every series this season the team has won back-to-back games only once, and has split wins and losses, in every series. The ThunderWolves now have an overall record of 6-7 with a 1-2 conference record.
“It’s a tough place to pitch in the RMAC,” said pitcher Wes Oliver. “We just have to stay motivated and keep going after it.”
The team will try to dig its way out of the RMAC gutter as they travel to face Plains Division leader Nebraska-Kearney in a three-game series starting Friday.