PUEBLO, Colo. Feb. 26, 2016 — The Colorado State University-Pueblo baseball team started its final weekend of nonconference play in impressive fashion, knocking off No. 11 ranked Lubbock Christian University, 4-3, Friday in a wild first game of a four-game set.

After squandering a 3-0 lead in the top of the eighth, the Pack (5-3 overall) answered back with what proved to be the game-winning run in the home half of the frame, capitalizing on two defensive lapses by the Chaparrals (9-2 overall).

With one out and runners standing on first and second, Lubbock Christian catcher JP Rousseau caught what he thought was a strike-three called and fired to second base in an attempt to pick off the Pack's Brandon Castaneda (Azusa, Calif.), who reached on a one-out single. Neither of the Chaparrals middle infielders broke to cover the bag, and Rousseau's throw sailed into the outfield, letting Castaneda and Oliver Jackson (Mission Viejo, Calif.) advance to second and third.

One batter later, Castaneda came around to score the go-ahead run on a wild pitch that skipped off home plate and halfway up the backstop.

Junior closer Jorge Venegas (Las Lunas, N.M.) put an end to the drama the next half inning, pitching a 1-2-3 ninth to nail down the 4-3 victory for CSU-Pueblo, which has now won three straight at the friendly confines of Rawlings Field.

It was an unusual ending to what was otherwise a textbook baseball game for the Pack.

Junior starting pitcher Brandon Conlin (Norco, Calif.) was brilliant on the bump as he tossed seven shutout innings, scattered eight hits, and struck out a season-high five batters in his tough luck no decision.

Conlin, who had four strikeouts on the season entering Friday's game, induced seven groundouts and benefited from some strong defense behind him as CSU-Pueblo turned two double-plays, and senior catcher Beau Cebulski (Las Animas, Colo.) cut down a pair of Lubbock Christian runners on the base paths.

CSU-Pueblo gave Conlin a lead to work with early, scoring a run in the first inning on a sacrifice fly off the bat of freshman outfielder Gilbert Sauceda (Indio, Calif.) to score senior Jordan Godman (Las Vegas, Nev.), who led off the inning with a triple.

The Pack added a pair of insurance runs during the middle innings as senior Dominick Bregar (Pueblo, Colo.) and Cebulski each collected RBI doubles in the third and sixth innings, respectively.

CSU-Pueblo maintained its 3-0 lead until the top of the eighth inning when Lubbock Christian put three runs on the board, courtesy of a two-run home run by Brent Stewart and a sacrifice fly from Brent Wilhelm.

Godman made a diving catch in center field for the third out of the eighth inning, saving at least one run, to get the Pack back to the dugout still tied and in position to take the lead the next half inning.

The Pack and Chaparrals continue their four-game series Saturday with a doubleheader, starting at 1 p.m. Each game will be seven innings, with the second game Saturday starting approximately 30 minutes after the conclusion of the first game.

Junior right-handers Kyle Lazcano (Anaheim Hills, Calif.) and Kyle Peeler (Las Vegas, Nev.) are the probable starting pitchers for the Pack in Game Two and Game Three, respectively.

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As a member of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, Colorado State University – Pueblo competes in 22 varsity sports in NCAA Division II intercollegiate athletics.