EMPORIA, Kan. (February 5, 2016) – in their 2016 debut, the Colorado State University-Pueblo baseball team could not match the Emporia State University offensive output as they dropped their season opener 9-5, Friday afternoon.

Manny Menocal (Sr., Las Vegas, Nev.)  kicked off the 2016 season in a  big way. The Pack's third baseman unloaded for a home run and three RBIs on the day. A .352 hitter in 2015, Menocal went 2-for-4 on the day.

Dominick Bregar (Sr., Pueblo, Colo.) picked up where he left off last season. Bregar tallied two hits with double and dinger.

Preseason All-RMAC selection, Jordan Godman (Sr., OF, Las, Vegas, Nev.) scored two runs. Godman went 2-for-5 and swiped two bags as he showcased his wheels.

Pitcher, Brandon Conlin (Jr., Norco, Calif.),  earned the first start of the season for the Pack. The Hornets spoiled Conlin's first inning as a ThunderWolf with a two-run home run that gave Emporia State an early 2-0 lead.

 CSU-Pueblo answered with a pair of long balls in the third inning.  Bregar blasted a solo shot that gave the Pack their first run and RBI of the 2016 campaign. Bregar's bomb trimmed the Hornet lead to one.

Two batters later, Menocal smacked two-run dinger over the left field wall. Menocal's first of the season plated Taylor Snyder (Jr., Las Vegas, Nev.) as the Pack claimed a 3-2 lead.

In their half of the third, the Hornets jumped back in front. Ryan McBroom doubled and came around to score on a Dalton Wheat single. Wheat scored on a fielder's choice to give the Hornets a 4-3 lead after three.  

The Hornets tagged the Pack for two more in the fourth. During this two run outburst they chased Conlin from his Pack debut and built their lead to 6-3 entering the fifth. Colin would take the loss in his first  start with CSU-Pueblo.

To begin the fifth, Godman singled. He came around to score on a fielder's choice. Snyder earned his first Pack RBI as CSU-Pueblo climbed back within two.

However, a second Hornets' homer extended the lead to 8-4. The Hornets eight runs came on just six hits as three Pack errors and two walks helped the Emporia State build a four-run lead.

The ThunderWolves got one back in the seventh. Godman singled then stole second for the second time in the game.  With one out, Menocal drove in his third run of the day with a single to make it 8-5.

Emporia State took the momentum back in the bottom of the seventh. A sacrifice fly brought home the Hornets final run as they took a 9-5 lead. The Pack could not muster another run as they fell in their season opener 9-5.

CSU-Pueblo will try to get some revenge and even the three game series Saturday at 12 p.m. when they face the Hornets again.  The Pack will make its 2016 home debut Feb. 12 when they host Adams State University at 1 p.m. at Rawlings Field.

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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