Four-run eighth inning sinks Pack.

GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (GoThunderWolves.com - April 27, 2012) - In position to pull out a win against a record crowd on the road, CSU-Pueblo game up four eighth inning runs to fall 8-5 to Colorado Mesa Friday.

CSU-Pueblo held a 5-4 lead over the Mavericks entering the bottom of the eighth inning before Mesa mounted a two-out rally that featured three consecutive doubles that plated four runs and gave Mesa an 8-5 lead.

It undid a great 7th inning for the Pack, which overcame a 4-3 deficit by producing two runs in the frame.  A Brandon Evans (Jr., Las Vegas, Nev.) single with the bases loaded scored two ThunderWolf runs, giving the Pack a 5-4 lead.

Mike Fabrizio (So., Pueblo, Colo.) was cruising before the eighth, having struck out five batters, but as his pitch count rose over 120 pitches, he began to get dinged by Mesa bats.

To add insult to injury, the game attracted 4,122 fans, which breaks the NCAA Division II single game attendance record, which was held by CSU-Pueblo in a 2005 game against the Mavericks.

The loss drops the Pack five games behind Colorado Mesa with seven games remaining, leaving CSU-Pueblo needing to win three straight to claim a very important series win.

The series picks back up at 1 p.m. Saturday.