LAKEWOOD, Colo. (GoThunderWolves.com – May 3, 2013) – Bad demons revisited the Pack in the first round of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference playoffs after losing 11-9 to Adams State in a heartbreaker. A three-run homerun in the top of the seventh by Emily Haugum set up the defeat.
The loss forces the Pack into a do-or-die situation against Western New Mexico at 4:30 p.m.
The Pack looked to take control of the game in the fifth inning when they put across nine runs to overcome a 7-0 deficit. But the game that featured many crazy swings by both teams was put to bed when with two outs and two strikes, a huge swing by Haugum put the Grizzlies ahead 11-9 for the victory.
Early on it was all Grizzlies as they jumped all over the Pack with innings that saw them put three runs and four runs on the scoreboard back-to-back.
The deficit might have been a huge hit for most teams, but the Pack put their heads down and went to work to seize the lead with a huge inning of their own. Not paying attention to the scoreboard or situation, the Pack responded with a huge fifth inning aided by the command issues of Grizzly pitcher, Kelsey Sellars.
The inning began with a single by Brittany Styger (So., Kent, Wash.) followed by a hit-by-pitch from Sellars. Samantha Rios (Sr., Fullerton, Calif.) would follow with a bunt single to load the bases and set up a potential dangerous situation.
The pressure situation acted on Sellars as she plunked Carlie Lucas (Sr., Granada Hills, Calif.) to score the Pack's first run of the ballgame. The huge swing would continue after the bases would be loaded again, this time with an intentional walk of Bosio.
Sellars again had trouble with her command, as she would walk McKenzie Joseph (Sr., Bakersfield, Calif.) to bring the score to 7-3. After an RBI single by Ariel Lopez (So., Fontana, Calif.) brought across Lucas, the real fireworks would begin with a bases-clearing triple by Styger.
One last run would come across the board to put the Pack up 9-7 going into the latter stages of the game.
The score would stand until the deciding seventh inning in which the Grizzlies would take the lead on the three-run home run by Haugum. The Pack looked to be in control with two outs and two strikes on the board, but Haugum was able to find a pitch she liked and drove it to the deepest part of centerfield.
With the game-winning hit Haugum finished 4-for-5 with four RBIs. Three other Grizzlies finished with multiple hits, including Casey Chaney who chipped in with four RBIs.
Styger was huge for the Pack as she finished 3-for-4 with four RBIs. Rios and Lucas each finished with two hits apiece.
The Pack's tournament hopes now hinge on a deciding game against Western New Mexico. First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m. in Golden. Winner will play in Lakewood on Saturday, while the loser's tournament hopes are dashed.
