Pack seizes opportunities, sweeps Metro State

Game 1: CSU-Pueblo 13, Metro State 5
Game 2: CSU-Pueblo 10, Metro State 1

PUEBLO, Colo. - The ThunderWolves took advantage of a total of 19 walks, four wild pitches and two passed balls issued by Metro State Sunday, allowing the Pack to claim a sweep in a much-needed RMAC doubleheader.

CSU-Pueblo won the first game 13-5 in a 9-inning contest before cruising to a 10-1 win in the 7-inning nightcap.

In the first game, a pair of passed balls by Metro State catcher Tyree Abshire as well as number of walks and two Metro State errors allowed the ThunderWolves to build a 5-1 lead after four innings on just two hits, with three runs of which being unearned by Metro State pitching.

Eventually, Pack bats caught up with the Metro State miscues to lay 11 hits on the Roadrunners, led by nine-hole hitter Mike Sanchez (Jr., Pueblo, Colo.), who drilled two singles with runners in scoring position, the latter of which a two-run single in the sixth inning.

Starting pitcher Scott Harshman (Sr., Pueblo, Colo.) earned his sixth win of 2009, tied for tops in the RMAC, with a five-run, eight-inning effort.

In game two, starter Dustin Timmins (Sr., Alamosa, Colo.) matched his teammate's win total when he pitched a gem, allowing just four hits in a complete game near-shutout, improving to 6-1.  Only a cosmetic run in the top of the 7th inning by Metro State ruined Timmins' shutout bid.

The ThunderWolves were helped along by a six-run second inning in which Metro State starter Steven Green issued six walks and walked in two runs, and eventually gave up a two-run double to Jason Fobes (Sr., Longmont, Colo.), one of his two doubles in the game, part 2-for-2 day by the Pack's leading hitter.

CSU-Pueblo's sweep stopped a dubious string by the Pack in which they lost eight out of ten RMAC games as the ThunderWolves attempted to jockey for position in advance of the NCAA's first Division II Central Regional rankings release this week.  The Pack improved to 26-13 and 15-9 in RMAC play, holding onto the RMAC Plains Division with a four-game lead over 2nd place Regis.