CSU-Pueblo 6, Nebraska-Kearney 3
Riding the best start so far this season by Pack ace
Dillon Meaney (Sr., Westminster, Colo.),
CSU-Pueblo got a very important conference win Friday, taking down
the current RMAC Plains Division leaders in Nebraska-Kearney 6-3.
Meaney, which entered Friday with an ERA over 10.00, went six
innings and giving up only six hits, beckoning to his performance
last season, when he went 7-1 and earned two playoff wins for the
ThunderWolves.
Meaney was helped out by the Pack offense, which supplied
an early cushion. The Pack dinged Loper starter
Andre O'Connor for three home runs. Zach Hoffman
(Sr., Pueblo West, Colo.) and Jon Proesl (Sr.,
California City, Calif.) slammed back-to-back shots off
O'Connor in the bottom of the first inning, giving CSU-Pueblo an
early 2-0 lead.
A leadoff homer by shortstop Mark Sayas (Sr., Las Vegas,
Nev.) to kick off the third inning undid a two-run third
by the Lopers, giving the Pack a 3-2 lead it would never
relinquish.
Meaney was relieved on the bump by Wes Oliver (Sr.,
Ridgecrest, Calif.), who continued his strong season of
relief by going three innings, allowing just two hits and striking
out two. Oliver claimed his first save of the season with his
outing.
The win evens the Pack record at 7-7 and 2-2 in conference play,
while the Lopers, which received votes in National Collegiate
Baseball Writers' Division II poll this week, fall to 9-5 and 2-2
in RMAC play.
The two teams will square off again for a doubleheader Saturday
at noon, wrapping up the teams' three-game set.
