Box Score ALAMOSA, Colo. (May 6, 2016) — After the seventh inning stretch, things took a sour turn for Colorado State University-Pueblo Baseball. The Pack wound up dropping their series opener to Adams State University Friday by a final score of 16-7.
CSU-Pueblo could not clinch the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference's Plains Division Championship as they fell to 24-17 (17-12 RMAC). The Grizzlies scored 12 runs in the final two innings to move to 22-24 with an 18-15 mark in conference games.
The Pack's 5-6-7 hitters made the difference Friday. Senior Manny Menocal (Las Vegas, Nev.) went 3-for-5 with two runs scored. Menocal also doubled for the Pack, hitting his ninth two-bagger of 2016.
Sixth hitter, Brandon Castaneda (Jr., Azusa, Calif.) produced in a big way for the Pack. Castaneda had three hits in five trips. He also drove in three runs and scored twice. The Pack's second baseman also slugged his third triple of the season.
Freshman Gilbert Sauceda (Indio, Calif.) also went 3-for-5 batting out of the seven hole. Sauceda collected a pair of RBIs and belted his sixth double of the campaign.
In the first inning, the Grizzlies staked themselves to an early lead. Adams State scored twice in the first to take a 2-0 advantage on Pack starter, Cameron Weinberg (Jr., San Juan Capistrano, Calif). Weinberg finished with a no decision
The Pack evened it up in their half of the third. A Castaneda single scored Taylor Snyder (Jr., Elk Ridge, Utah). Catcher Beau Cebulski (Las Animas, Colo.) drew a walk that brought home Oliver Jackson (Jr., Mission Viejo, Calif.) to tie the game at two. Cebulski earned a free pass twice on the afternoon.
Adams State made it a two-run game again in the bottom half of the third. They tacked on two more runs to make it 4-2.
Snyder smashed a home run in the sixth to trim the Grizzlies lead to one. The junior's solo shot was his team-leading 10th long ball of the year.
CSU-Pueblo seized the lead in the top of the seventh. Menocal scored on a Castaneda triple. Sauceda chased Castaneda home with a base knock of his own as the Pack grabbed a 5-4 lead.
However, after the seventh inning stretch, momentum shifted. The Grizzlies rattled off eight runs in their half of the frame to take a 12-5 lead.
The Pack tried to claw back in the eighth. Menocal and Castaneda scored again as the ThunderWolves inched within five, 12-7.
Adams State closed the Pack out with four more runs in the bottom of the eighth. Their 12-run rally in the seventh and eighth secured a 16-7 win in game one of the series.
Dominick Bregar (Sr., Pueblo, Colo.) went 2-for-4 on the day. Bregar improved his average to .427 to rank second in the RMAC.
Hit totals were relatively close as the Grizzlies out-hit the Pack 15-14, but the Pack left 13 men on base as their longest losing streak of the season hit four. Eight of these runners were left in scoring position.
The Pack will try to clinch their second consecutive Plains Division title Saturday in game two of the series. First pitch from Alamosa is scheduled for 1 p.m.
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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.
