Hapless ThunderWolves falter vs. Mines

Colorado Mines 10, CSU-Pueblo 1

GOLDEN - CSU-Pueblo stranded 12 runners and only sent one run across the plate Friday night, falling 10-1 to Colorado School of Mines in Golden.

The loss officially hands the Plains Division title to Nebraska-Kearney, whose "magic number" was 1 coming into Friday's games.

CSU-Pueblo used a unique lineup Friday, trying to shake the cobwebs of a three-game losing streak, and though the hits came, they didn't come at the right times.

Zach Hoffman (Sr., Pueblo West, Colo.), the ThunderWolves' leading hitter, was inserted into the leadoff spot for the first time this season and performed incredibly well, going 3-for-5, as did two-hole hitter, Mike Sanchez (Sr., Pueblo, Colo.).  But neither player scored a run, as the rest of the Pack lineup went a combined 4-for-26, and the 3-through-5 hitters were just 2-for-11.

The cold bats weren't saved by the Pack pitching, as six pitchers appeared Friday, four in the sixth inning alone, when the Orediggers scored a back-breaking eight runs.

The loss also cements the Pack's playoff fate, as it is assured of the RMAC's five-seed, meaning it will play Plains Division winner, Nebraska-Kearney, on its home turf in Kearney, Neb. to open the double-elimination RMAC tournament.

CSU-Pueblo will end its regular season Saturday with doubleheader against the Orediggers at noon.