CSU-Pueblo moves into first place tie following win.
KEARNEY, Neb. (GoThunderWolves.com - March 30, 2012) - CSU-Pueblo jumped out to a 12-0 lead against Nebraska-Kearney Friday, riding the offensive explosion to a 15-9 victory - its ninth straight win.
Combined with an 11-10 loss by Colorado Mesa to New Mexico Highlands Friday, the ThunderWolves are now tied with Mesa atop the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference standings.
CSU-Pueblo's bats continued on its hot streak as it registered 15 hits off of Loper pitchers, forcing Friday starter Cory Ridenour to the bench just 1-2/3 innings into the game.
Five ThunderWolves recorded multi-hit games, including a 2-for-5 game from J.T. Greenhood (Sr., Pueblo, Colo.), who extended his hit streak to 15 games after knocking in four runs, three coming on a three-run home run in the second inning.
Two other ThunderWolves - Chase Lacomb (Jr., Las Vegas, Nev.) and Brandon Evans (Jr., Las Vegas, Nev.) - each recorded three-hit games while Jovany Valenzuela (Jr., Tucson, Ariz.) reached base four times, recording a hit and three walks as well as three RBI, coming from a three-run bomb of his own in the 5th inning.
Nebraska-Kearney would threaten, cutting the lead to 12-5 in the 7th inning and 14-9 in the 8th, but the ThunderWolves never faced a credible threat to its lead.
Starting pitcher Mike Fabrizio (So., Pueblo, Colo.) recorded his third straight win to improve to 5-2 on the season, allowing eight hits in seven innings of work. Nick Flory (Jr., Chico, Calif.) turned in a save-worthy performance on the back end of the game despite not statistically qualifying for a save, halting any Kearney rally by pitching the game's final 1-1/3 innings and striking out each batter he faced.
CSU-Pueblo will look for its 10th straight win - and a potential uncontested move into first place in the RMAC standings - as it faces Kearney in a doubleheader Saturday afternoon.
