By Dalton Ries, GoThunderWolves.com Insider
PUEBLO, Colo. (GoThunderWolves.com - Feb. 22, 2013) - The CSU-Pueblo baseball team earned a split in their home-opening doubleheader against 15th-ranked Angelo State Friday afternoon at Rawlings field. The Pack dropped the first game 7-5 but responded with a come-from behind 6-5 victory to split the first day of the series.
The first game of the series was a seesaw affair as the teams traded the lead multiple times. Angelo State got off to a quick 2-0 lead. The Pack leveled the score in the bottom of the second using small ball after back-to-back walks to lead off the inning.
Angelo State answered back with an unearned run in the top-half of the third on an error from Chase Lacomb (Sr., Las Vegas, Nev.). The Pack wasted little time responding as they fired back with two runs in the bottom half of the third to take a 4-3 lead.
Unfortunately Angelo State responded with a three-run double in the top of the fourth to take a lead that they would not relinquish for the rest of the game.
The Pack had a chance to take the lead in the bottom of the seventh with two on and one out but the Pack were unable to capitalize on their opportunity, dropping their first home game of the season 7-5.
The second game of the day was a little bit brighter for the Pack as they used an offensive explosion in the sixth inning to split the doubleheader.
The Pack again was down early after Angelo state went up 1-0 after the first. After an early run, offense was hard to come by as the two starting pitchers engaged in a pitchers' duel that resulted in four consecutive scoreless innings.
The Pack caught fire in the bottom of the sixth as Evan Kenebrew (Jr., Colorado Springs, Colo.) started the rally with a two-run double. The Pack continued to hammer Angelo State, batting around in the inning and putting up six runs to take a commanding 6-2 lead going into the top of the seventh.
The Pack however, wanted to keep the game exciting. After a leadoff walk Angelo State recorded back-to-back hits to drive in a run and fill the bases. Pack pitcher Jeremiah Struble (Sr., Divide, Colo.) buckled down and earned consecutive outs, but not before allowing three in the inning as the Rams' rally fell short. Struble improved to 2-0 with the win, beating his second straight regionally-ranked team.
CSU-Pueblo will continue its series with Angelo State Saturday when it hosts the Rams in a doubleheader starting at 11 a.m.
