ThunderWolf pitching collapses, drops third straight to Regis

Regis 19, CSU-Pueblo 14

Another day, another bullpen implosion by the ThunderWolves, who saw relievers give up 11 runs in a wacky 19-14 loss to Regis Sunday.

The Pack's loss, following a sweep at the hands of Regis in a doubleheader Saturday, marks the first time school history that the team has lost a four-game series after winning the first game of a series.

The ThunderWolf hitters did their best to give the pitching staff a good headstart, putting up five runs in the top of the first inning. 

But behind starter Jesus Hernandez, that all went away.  The ThunderWolves held a shaky 7-4 lead in the bottom of the fourth inning when the Pack gave up four runs as Hernandez left the mound on the bad end of an 8-7 lead.

The relievers provided little solace, giving up nine runs in the following two innings, leaving an impressive performance at the plate, 14 runs on 12 hits, as nothing more than a footnote.

The Sunday breakdown follows a Saturday which saw the Pack lose two, including a 5-4 extra-inning loss in the late game, another bullpen implosion that undid a one-run lead going into the bottom of the eighth in a seven-inning game.

"Yesterday, we were in position to win two games and we couldn't finish either one," Pack coach Stan Sanchez said.  "Today, we just weren't able to find the strike zone.  Our kids are doing what they can, and we obviously scored enough to win, but we're having pitching and fielding breakdowns that are costing us."

The ThunderWolves will try to get it together next weekend for the annual winner-take-all grudge match with Mesa State, which is usually played for top position in the RMAC standings.  This season, the Pack hasn't held up their end of the bargain.

"We're going through a tough stretch right now," Sanchez said.  "But we believe in our kids and we believe they will get out of this."

Because of the Easter holiday Sunday, the ThunderWolves will play a 6 p.m. game Thursday at Rawlings Field, followed by a Friday doubleheader and the series finale at noon Saturday.