PUEBLO, Colo. (GoThunderWolves.com - Feb. 23, 2013) - It's not often that CSU-Pueblo Baseball coach, Stan Sanchez, views a series split as a success story.
But Saturday, after CSU-Pueblo held 15th-ranked Angelo State scoreless in 15 of 18 innings of a doubleheader, splitting the twin bill, CSU-Pueblo came away with a with a series split - and a large measure of respect, becoming the first-team in the RMAC this season to record two wins against a nationally-ranked team.
CSU-Pueblo rallied to win the late game 3-2 after falling in a pitchers' duel in the early game, 2-0.
Behind starting pitchers Sean Gavin (Sr., Canyon Country, Calif.) in the first game and Lonny Schoon (Jr., Colorado Springs, Colo.) in the late game, the Pack repeatedly held Angelo State at bay, allowing a combined 11 hits over 18 innings.
In game one, Gavin pitched exemplary, allowing just two hits over seven innings of work, striking out five. Boasting a line that would lead most pitchers to victory, he stood across from Angelo State starter, Bryce Zak, who one-upped Gavin with a two-hit, eight inning outing.
The difference came on a two-run double by Angelo State's Reggie Rodriguez in the 7th inning, accounting for the only scoring in the game as the Rams claimed a 2-0 win.
In the second game, the outcome was threatening to be a carbon copy of the first game as Angelo State led 2-1 after putting up a run in the top of the 8th inning.
CSU-Pueblo responded in a big way in the bottom of the 8th, facing down Angelo State closer Jake Feckley and denting the Rams' bullpen ace for three hits, including the winning run.
The inning materialized on a two-out rally as the Pack had a runner on first with two outs. Dominick Bregar (Fr., Pueblo, Colo.) hit a single down the rightfield line to push Evan Kenebrew (Jr., Colorado Springs, Colo.) along, and Mario Sanchez (Jr., Tucson, Ariz.) responded with a game-tying RBI single.
On the next at-bat, Brett Montague (Sr., San Mateo, Calif.) drove the winning run home with a pinch-hit RBI single that scored Bregar, setting up closer Kyle Ginter (Sr., Chino Hills, Calif.) with the save opportunity.
Ginter, who was lights out in an appearance in the first game of the doubleheader, striking out three and allowing just one hit in two innings of work, shut down the Rams by striking out its seven- and eight-hole hitters en route to a 1-2-3 ninth, notching his first save of the season.
CSU-Pueblo, in claiming the split, improves to 3-5 on the season entering RMAC play next week. CSU-Pueblo opens with a four-game set against Metro State at Rawlings Field beginning Friday at 3 p.m.
