Stunned ThunderWolves swept by Mines

Colorado Mines 11, CSU-Pueblo 5
Colorado Mines 6, CSU-Pueblo 5

First, Mines defeated the ThunderWolves for the first time in 28 tries, 11-5, in the early game of a doubleheader Saturday.  Then, the Orediggers added insult to injury.

Mines followed up its improbable game one victory with another 6-5 win as the Pack was left searching for answers.

"I'm not so concerned with history and winning streaks at this point as I am with getting our players' heads back in the right place," ThunderWolves coach Stan Sanchez said following the sweep.

The stark reality of it all was that the Pack players' heads weren't in the right place all day long.  It all started in the top of seventh inning, when normally lights-out reliever, Chris Garcia, took the mound with a 4-4 tie, looking to send the game to the bottom of the seventh where the Pack could hopefully close out the win. 

But what happened was a complete and absolute meltdown.  The Orediggers sent 10 batters to the plate, aided by three errors, two by shortstop Matt Wismann, and four singles, three of which were of the infield variety and borderline errors unto themselves.

"I've never seen a defensive breakdown like that in all my years here," Sanchez said.  "But now we just have to pick ourselves up and move on."

Once the smoke cleared, Mines had sent seven runs across the plate in the inning, all but securing an improbable win.  Of the Orediggers' 11 runs, only two were earned, helped along by five ThunderWolf errors.

Coach Sanchez responded the only way he knows how - try to motivate his players.

He told the players they would not wear their normal jerseys in the second game of the doubleheader, instead donning their practice jerseys.

"I tried to challenge them, and told them they had to take their jerseys off until they could represent this program," Sanchez said.  "But I didn't do a good job, because that didn't work either."

In the second game, the Orediggers promptly jumped out to a 1-0 lead after logging three hits in the first inning.  Mines continued to have a full head of steam, and the Pack once again folded under the pressure.

Trailing 3-2 in the top of the sixth inning, the ThunderWolves gave up four hits, two of them doubles, putting three on the board and jumping out to a 6-3 lead. 

In the bottom of the seventh and their backs against the wall, the Pack looked to make a valiant charge.  Leadoff hitter Rutger Bovard was the first to come to the plate, and he walloped a ball to deep centerfield that looked to be a sure double at the very least.  But Mines' Nick Walker made a Willie Mays-style circus catch over his shoulder, robbing Bovard.

Though the Pack scored two runs in the seventh, they couldn't get over the hump.  But one thing was clear - it was one of Mines' best days, and one of the ThunderWolves' worst.

"You have to give credit to Mines, because they played a heck of a game," Sanchez said.  "It was their day today, pure and simple."

The ThunderWolves will look to salvage a split Sunday in the series finale at 12 p.m.  If the Pack loses again, it will mark the first time in school history that they have lost a four-game series after winning the series' first game.