Game 1: CSU-Pueblo 12, #22 Mesa State 0
Game 2: #22 Mesa State 4, CSU-Pueblo 0

The Pack finished up an impressive weekend against their biggest rival, Mesa State, Saturday, trading shutouts, winning 12-0 before falling 4-0, and splitting a four-game set with the Mavericks.

The ThunderWolves started the day with about as perfect a game as you can ask for, exploding offensively while getting a stellar pitching performance in the first game of the season for senior lefty Josh Herback-South (Regina, SK, Canada). 

Herback-South, though he only pitched four innings, gave up just three hits and struck out eight, earning his first win of the season.  His day was shortened more by his own hitters than the Mesa State bats, as the ThunderWolves hung all 12 of its runs on Mesa State in the first three innings.  The Pack put up a lucky seven in the first inning, batting around and sending 11 hitters to the plate.  In the second, the ThunderWolves scored four more.

All told, CSU-Pueblo torched Mesa State for 20 hits, with all but one (a two-run double in the first inning by Juan Martinez (Sr., Caricao, Venezuela)) coming by way of single.  Every swing by the Pack seemed to find the shallow outfield.

The day was knotted up by a great relief performance by Zack Richmond (Jr., Chino Hills, Calif.) who allowed just two hits in three innings of work.

As strong as the Pack was offensively in the first game, it was just as lackluster in the second.  Though the Pack practically matched Mesa State in hits (8 to 7), extra base hits made the difference.  Five of Mesa State's eight hits were for extra bases, compared to just two by CSU-Pueblo, spelling more scoring opportunities for the Mavericks.

With the split, CSU-Pueblo is a 4-4 on the young season with a non-conference showdown against arguably the RMAC's best team in New Mexico Highlands on the horizon next weekend.