Colorado Mines 8, CSU-Pueblo 5
CSU-Pueblo 8, Colorado Mines 7
GOLDEN - Though the ThunderWolves' spirits were low Saturday as
they were at risk of suffering their first series sweep to Colorado
School of Mines in school history, senior Mike Sanchez
(Sr., Pueblo, Colo.) gave the Pack something to smile
about, launching two bombs - the first two home runs of his career
- as the Pack salvaged a doubleheader split with the Orediggers and
ended the regular season on a high note.
CSU-Pueblo fell 8-5 in the opener before holding on for an 8-7
win in the late game. The Pack, now at 22-22 and 16-15 in RMAC
play, will open the RMAC Tournament at Nebraska-Kearney
Wednesday.
Sanchez closed up the most impressive series of his career by
turning in his second and third consecutive three-hit game
Saturday. His two homers in the final game were monumental
for the normally light-hitting second baseman, who is currently on
an 11-game hit streak, the longest of his career. During that
11-game streak, Sanchez is 22-for-42, hitting .542.
Sanchez' monster day overshadowed a Pack team that has faded
down the stretch, losing five of the past six games and limping
into the RMAC Tournament. Throughout the whole series, the
Pack used mostly first-year players in the lineup as seniors were
sat.
In the first game Saturday, A six-run second-inning was enough
to lift the Orediggers to a win, putting Mines in position to claim
their first ever series sweep from the ThunderWolves.
CSU-Pueblo nearly blew an 8-2 lead late in the second game,
giving up five runs in the final two innings and stranding three
runners on base to close the game out, eeking out the 8-7 win.
With the recent skid behind them, however, CSU-Pueblo is looking
to find lightning in a bottle and claim its second consecutive
Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Tournament championship this
week. The first step isn't kind, however, as the Pack opens
the double-elimination tournament against tourney host,
Nebraska-Kearney, on the Lopers' home turf at 6 p.m. CST
Wednesday.
