Pack claims 11th win in past 12 games.
PUEBLO, Colo. (GoThunderWolves.com - Mar. 18, 2012) - Behind two 10-plus run performances, CSU-Pueblo made it a four-game of sweep of defending RMAC champion Regis Sunday, winning 11-2 and 10-7.
The wins move the Pack to 13-7 overall and 11-5 in RMAC play, putting them solidly in third place in the conference standings.
In the first game, behind an outstanding effort by pitcher Shannon Traxinger (Sr., Longmont, Colo.), who allowed just one earned run on seven hits, the ThunderWolf bats teed off to plate 11 runs and mercy-rule the Rangers.
CSU-Pueblo carried a 4-2 lead into the bottom of the sixth inning and 7-8-9 hitters coming to the plate. The ThunderWolves promptly began piling up baserunners, first with a hit batsmen to Sarah Bosshart (Sr., Irvine, Calif.) followed by a perfect sacrifice bunt by Lindsey Marmolejo (Sr., Pueblo, Colo.) - so perfect that she legged out a bunt single on the attempt. Two more RBI singles later, the big inning was in full force as the Pack rose to a 6-2 lead.
Regis starter Nikki Haberkorn gave way to Sydney Gaffin in the circle, and she did the unthinkable - balking twice, the latter of which sent home a ThunderWolf run - helping to set up a two-run single by Ariel Lopez (Fr., Fontana, Calif.) and putting the Pack up 9-2.
On the next at bat, Justine Bosio (Jr., Santa Barbara, Calif.) would walk the Rangers off, driving a two-run homer to the opposite field, mercy-ruling Regis 11-2 in six innings.
The second game wasn't a runaway affair in the slightest as CSU-Pueblo was down for the most of the game, clawing its way back in midway through the game and eventually coming away with the win.
Regis held a 5-2 lead in the third inning before Marmolejo doubled home two runs, cutting the lead to 5-4. A Brittany Styger (Fr., Kent, Wash.) RBI single tied the game at 5-5.
The Pack pulled ahead in the 5th as Bosshart drove a home run for the second consecutive day, plating two runs and putting the Pack up 7-5. Regis, however, answered immediately by scoring two in a four-hit sixth inning, tying the game at 7-7.
CSU-Pueblo, however, kept the hit parade going in the bottom of the 6th as it too turned in four hits to go up 10-7. Bosio closed out her 7th win of the season by retiring Regis in order in the top of the 7th inning to ice the win.
CSU-Pueblo will square off on the road with Fort Lewis, which is currently in second place in the RMAC standings, in a four-game series next weekend.
