PUEBLO, Colo. (March 4, 2020) – Colorado State University-Pueblo Baseball will open Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference play with a four-game series against Metro State University Denver at Rawlings Field.
The series starts Friday at 6 p.m. and continues with a doubleheader Saturday beginning at 1 p.m. The Pack and Roadrunners will wrap up this series Sunday at 12 p.m.
Pack Notes:
The ThunderWolves enter RMAC play with a five-game winning streak. CSU-Pueblo swept RMAC foe Adams State University in a non-conference two-game series last week. They outscored the Grizzlies 26-7 in those games. The Pack also won its last three games against Fort Hays State University. They are 8-4 overall.
Ty Lewis (Jr., Pleasant Grove, Utah) has caught fire for the Pack. Lewis went 4-for-6 with eight RBIs. He now has 13 RBIs in his last four games. The Pack's third baseman is hitting .615 over that span. Lewis shares third place in the RMAC with 14 RBIs. He has smacked a team-high three home runs in 2020 including two Sunday vs. Adams State.
The Pack's bullpen has been a key to its success. During the Pack's five-game win streak, CSU-Pueblo relievers have posted a 1.91 ERA.
JC Hatch (Sr., Corona, Calif.) has two wins during the Pack's win streak. Hatch has a 2.38 ERA in seven relief appearances for the Pack. In total 12 Pack pitchers have an ERA under 5.00.
One of those pitchers is
Gunner Pickett (Sr., Longmont, Colo.) who leads the Pack with 1.96 ERA. Pickett also leads Pack starters with a 1.16 WHIP. Despite being a starter, Pickett earned the first save of his career with three scoreless innings in the Pack's win over the Grizzlies Sunday. Pickett ranks fourth in the RMAC with 24 strikeouts.
Brett Matthews (Sr., Queen Creek, Ariz.) ranks seventh in the RMAC with 22 punch outs. Matthews moved to 2-1 with a win on Sunday. After giving up two runs in the first inning, Matthews responded with five shutout frames.
The Pack now ranks 27th in D-II with 10.6 strikeouts per nine innings. They rank third in the RMAC with a 3.98 team ERA.
Mike Gonzalez (Jr., Los Angeles, Calif.) leads the Pack with a .489 on base percentage. Gonzalez ranks ninth in the RMAC in OBP. He is hitting .361 on the season.
Aidan Welch (Jr., Seattle, Wash.) leads Pack starters with a .395 batting average. Welch has a hit in 11-of-12 games this season. He has a hit in 19-of-his last 20 games.
Scouting MSU Denver
The Roadrunners enter RMAC play at 5-9. They have won three straight games after sweeping University of Sioux Falls.
Brice Martinez leads the Roadrunners with a .405 average. Zach Walsh has been a force with a team-high .481 OBP. He also has three home runs and 11 RBIs.
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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.
