Game 1: CSU-Pueblo 5, Regis
4
Game 2: Regis 6, CSU-Pueblo
3
DENVER, Colo. - The ThunderWolves were granted a gift of a win
in the early game vs. Regis Sunday, but couldn't turn the sweep in
the nightcap, splitting the Sunday doubleheader with the Rangers.
In a hard fought first game that featured the first long ball of
the season by centerfielder Ashley Aldrich
(Sr., Sahuarita, Ariz.), the game was tied going into the
7th and decisive inning.
But after a leadoff single by Kelly Purcell (Jr.,
Las Vegas, Nev.), the Rangers, particularly pitcher
Bianca Holley, seemed to do all it could to assure a
CSU-Pueblo victory.
Holley uncorked a wild pitch, advancing Purcell to second before
forcing a pop out by Katie Johnson (Sr.,
Bonney Lake, Wash.). Then Regis catcher Alisa
Heronema gifted Purcell with a passed ball, sending her to third,
before Holley issued another wild pitch, sending Purcell across
home plate.
Though the Pack was only held to one run in the 7th inning, the
damage was done, and the Pack's first victory of 2009 was secured
by a quick 1-2-3 inning by reliever Amber Higby (Sr.,
Pueblo, Colo.), who captured the unlikely 5-4 win.
The second game was not as nice to the ThunderWolves.
Regis quickly put up five runs in the first inning, enough to
stymie any hope for a Pack comeback. CSU-Pueblo
mounted a "too-little-too-late" rally in the top of the 7th
inning, putting up two runs on an RBI double by Bo Nuanez (Jr.,
Lafayette, Colo.) and an error at first base that allowed
Justine
Bosio (Fr., Santa Barbara, Calif.) to reach safely,
but the Pack could only muster two runs, not enough to dent Regis'
eventual 6-3 advantage.
The ThunderWolves will continue the non-conference portion of
their schedule next weekend in the Regional Crossover Tournament in
Colorado Springs, where the Pack will entertain Northern Sun
Conference schools Augustana (S.D.), Mary (N.D.), Minnesota-Duluth,
Southwest Minnesota State, Winona State (Minn.), and Concordia-St.
Paul (Minn.).
