Pack now looking for first series sweep of Metro State since 2007.

PUEBLO, Colo. (GoThunderWolves.com - March 17, 2012) - CSU-Pueblo had a number of extraordinary performance to hang its hat on Saturday vs. Metro State, riding a staggering outing by Jeremiah Struble (Jr., Divide, Colo.) to victory before benefitting from a Vinnie Mattivi (Sr., Pueblo, Colo.) walk-off single to claim two from the Roadrunners.

In Pack's opener Saturday, it was all about the stellar play on the mound by Struble.  He turned in his finest day of his collegiate career, going for a complete game four-hitter, only walking one batter and striking out 11.  The Roadrunners only managed one extra base hit - a second-inning RBI double by Danny Miller - but were shut down otherwise.

At the plate, Brandon Evans (Jr., Las Vegas, Nev.) ran his hit streak to 10 as he collected three hits in the opener Saturday, scoring two runs, each coming on RBI from J.T. Greenhood (Sr., Pueblo, Colo.).  The Pack senior went 2-for-3 from the three-hole, knocking in a team-high three runs.

While the first game was cut and dry, Saturday's late game was anything but.  Though it started out that way, as CSU-Pueblo hung an "8" on Metro State in the third inning to jump out to a 9-4 lead, the Roadrunners promptly tied it up by putting six in the top of the fourth inning, making it a 9-9 game and creating a tense back-and-forth atmosphere for the rest of the contest.

In the fifth inning, Metro State would jump out to an 11-9 lead after turning four walks into two runs, one of which coming with the bases loaded and plating a runner. 

CSU-Pueblo would respond by powering home three runs in the bottom of the 6th inning, first collecting two on a two-run home run by Greenhood, then getting another on the next at bat from Jovany Valenzuela (Jr., Tucson, Ariz.), vaulting the Pack to a 12-11 lead and leaving them just three outs away from a win with the RMAC's returning top closer, Tim Pomierski (Sr., Upland, Calif.) heading to the mound.

But on the first at bat, Metro State tied it up with one swing as Jeff Levett hit a solo homer to tie it at 12-12.  Later in the inning, Metro would load the bases, but came up dry, setting up the Pack for a walk-off situation.

Thanks to a clutch double by Andrew Castaneda (Sr., San Jose, Calif.), the Pack had a shot with two outs and a runner in scoring position.  Third baseman Mattivi seized the opportunity, driving a single to left center to score the speedy Castaneda from second and deliver the Pack its third straight victory and gave Pomierski the win despite the blown save.

Sunday, CSU-Pueblo will seek its first four-game series sweep of Metro State since 2007 when it hosts the Roadrunners for the series finale.  First pitch is slated for 12 p.m.