Hot Pack annihilates Mines, claims sweep

CSU-Pueblo 16, Colorado Mines 6

GOLDEN, Colo. - The ThunderWolves remained hot Sunday, earning its eighth win in a row and a four-game sweep of Colorado Mines, scoring a decisive 16-6 win.

CSU-Pueblo's sweep marks the club's fifth win on the weekend, the first time since 2005 the team had captured five wins during a four-day period.  CSU-Pueblo defeated 19th-ranked Concordia-St. Paul Thursday before embarking on their four-game sweep of Mines.

The ThunderWolves uncorked 24 hits on Mines pitchers, with eight coming from shortstop Mark Sayas (Jr., Las Vegas, Nev.) and Dan Ninomiya (Jr., Woodinville, Wash.), who each went 4-for-5, marking the first time since early 2008 that two ThunderWolves had four hits in a single game.  Sayas had a triple and three singles while Ninomiya was a triple away from the cycle, turning in his team-leading 5th home run of the season on a two-run shot in the 6th, and knocking in four runs. 

Manning the hill for the ThunderWolves was Dillon Meaney (Jr., Westminster, Colo.), who pitched five strong innings in his first start of the season, striking out six and earning his first win as a ThunderWolf. 

CSU-Pueblo improves to 20-5 with the win, matching the 20-5 opening record by the 2006 team.  The win also propels the Pack to 11-1 in RMAC play to open the season, its best start in conference play since the 2004, when the Pack opened up 14-1 in RMAC play and eventually won the RMAC and hosted the West Regionals.  CSU-Pueblo's 11-1 mark is tops in the RMAC this season.

The ThunderWolves will return home for a four-game set against New Mexico Highlands, starting Friday night at 6:05 p.m. at Rawlings Field.