PUEBLO, Colo. (GoThunderWolves.com – Feb. 9, 2014) – Thanks to some stellar pitching, especially from senior Lonny Schoon (Widefield, Colo.), and a 10th-inning walk-off homer from leftfielder Mike Wagner (Jr., Golden, Colo.) in the first game, the Colorado State University-Pueblo ThunderWolves posted a pair of 1-run decisions over visiting West Texas A&M University in frigid conditions on Sunday at Rawlings Field.
The ThunderWolves, who took two of the three games in the season-opening weekend series, came from 3-0 and 4-3 deficits to win the first game by a 5-4 on Wagner's extra-inning bomb to left before four Pack pitchers held the Buffs to just five hits in a 2-1 second-game win.
Schoon pitched a combined 6 2/3 innings of no-hit ball in long relief efforts of both games, played with wind-chills in the single digits and low teens, picking up the win in the opener of the doubleheader. In that contest, He set down all 11 hitters he faced after reliving starter Jesse Bristow (Jr., Heber, Utah) before getting out of a 2-on jam in the sixth inning of Game 2. Retiring the final nine batters he faced in the nightcap, he then gave way to Kolby Rimer (Jr., St. George, Utah), who earned the save in the second game.
Starter Victor Soto (Jr., Whittier, Calif.) earned the second game win for the Pack, allowing just four hits and a single run in five innings of work.
The Buffs, who claimed a 4-3 win in a single-game on Saturday, jumped out to a 2-0 lead after the first half-inning on Sunday. They then scored another run in the top of the fourth before a Wagner single and 3-base error through the wickets of center fielder Tyler McKnight allowed the Pack to cut the gap to 3-2.
They then tied the game later in the inning as another Buff error, one of five they committed in the first game, allowed Eddie Williams (Sr., Castle Rock, Colo.) to score.
The Buffs would re-gain the lead in the sixth on an RBI ground out by McKnight before Schoon entered with one on and one out in the seventh.
Dominating the Buffs, Schoon set up Wagner to provide the heroics, as Arvada West High School product took the first pitch of the top of the 10th inning out of the park.
Wagner, who went 3-for-7 with three runs scored in the doubleheader, then singled to begin the bottom of the second in Game 2, later scoring the opening run on a Cameron Buckles (Sr., Parker, Colo.) sacrifice fly.
The Pack held that 1-0 lead until the top of the fifth, when Ryan March plated Brock Schlekeway with a 2-out single.
After a hit batsmen, Soto then got out of a bases-loaded jam with a fielder's choice, which kept the score knotted at 1.
Chris Ramsey (Jr., Westminster, Colo.) then drew a hit by pitch of his own, advancing to third on a Mario Sanchez (Sr., Tucson, Ariz.) single and scoring on a run-scoring double play that gave the Pack a 2-1 lead.
After the Buffs drew a leadoff walk against reliever Jake Busch (Jr., Jefferson City, Mo.) in the sixth, Schoon walked his first batter but quickly regained his composure to pitch three innings of nearly-perfect ball, setting up Rimer, who allowed just one hit, erased with a game-inning come-back double play.
The ThunderWolves will remain at home next weekend for a 3-game weekend set against Sioux Falls (S.D.), starting Friday afternoon at 1 o'clock. The Pack then go on the road for 12 straight over three weekends, including a Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference opening series at Metro State from Feb. 28 through Mar. 2.
