PUEBLO, Colo. (February 8, 2019) – After starting 3-0, Colorado State University-Pueblo Baseball will look to remain unbeaten when the ThunderWolves visit Pittsburg State University for a three-game series.
Bad weather forced the three-game set to be played over two days on Saturday and Sunday. The Pack and Gorillas will faceoff in a double-header Saturday starting at 11 a.m. (MTN). The series wraps up Sunday with a nine-inning game starting at 11 a.m. (MTN).
The Pack lead D-II in scoring average over the opening weekend, averaging 20.33 runs per game. CSU-Pueblo became the first team since 2010 to score 15 runs in every game of a season opening series and average at least 20 runs per game.
CSU-Pueblo batted around five times over the opening weekend. The ThunderWolves outscored Adams State University 61-15 to earn the sweep.
The Pack hit .444 over the opening weekend .83 points higher than any team in the RMAC. Their .575 OBP puts them .156 higher than anyone else in the conference.
CSU-Pueblo has a 4.00 team ERA, second-best in the RMAC. The Pack's 36 strikeouts over the opening weekend also ranked second.
Rion Santamaria (Jr., Yorba Linda, Calif.) wreaked havoc on the Grizzlies pitching. He tied an RMAC record with three triples in a single-game.
Santamaria's .727 batting average, .800 on base percentage, and 1.455 slugging percentage all lead the RMAC. His nine runs scored over three games also ranks atop the conference.
Aidan Welch (So., Seattle, Wash.) would lead the RMAC in most of those categories were it not for his teammate, Santmaria. Welch hit .636 against the Grizzlies. The Pack's shortstop posted a .688 OBP with two doubles over the opening weekend. Welch scored six runs and drove in five more.
Beau Brieske (Jr., Chandler, Ariz.) struck out a league-high 10 batters over opening weekend. Brieske threw five shutout innings to earn his first win Friday. He allowed a WHIP of 1.00.
Gilbert Sauceda (Sr., Indio, Calif.) drew seven walks against the Grizzlies. The Pack's first baseman has a .588 OBP. Sauceda needs 37 walks to set a new RMAC record. With 20 walks, he will become the all-time leader in free passes in CSU-Pueblo history.
Daniel Abiles (Jr., Chandler, Ariz.) leads the Pack with seven RBIs. Abiles shares the Pack's lead in home runs with
Logan Gibbons (Jr., Utah),
JP Hopkins (R-Jr., Chino Hills, Calif.), and
Dakota Popham (Sr., Colorado Springs, Colo.). All four players have one home run. Hopkins' home run was a grand slam.
The Pack and the Gorillas played three games in Pueblo last year. Pittsburg State won the series 2-1. The Gorillas started the season 1-2 over their opening weekend.
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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.
