DENVER, Colo. (March 11, 2021) - The Colorado State University Pueblo baseball team split a pair of nonconference games at MSU Denver, Thursday. The Pack's late game rally fell short in a 12-10 defeat in the series opener and was followed by a gem pitched by the Pack's Brett Matthews (Sr., Queen Creek, Ariz.) in a 3-1 CSU Pueblo win in the nightcap.

Matthews was stellar in game two, throwing six innings, scattering four hits and allowed one run while striking out nine Roadrunners to improve to 2-1 on the year.

Jonathan Ramirez (R-Jr., Henderson, Colo.) secured the final out of the seven-inning affair to pick up his first save of the season.

On the day, leadoff hitter Kodee Martin (Sr., Platte City, Mo.) guided the offense and picked up three hits including a walk.

CSU Pueblo smacked three homeruns in the two games and Aidan Welch (Jr., Seattle, Wash.) collected three RBIs.

In the series opener, MSU Denver built a seven-run lead over three innings before the ThunderWolves started to chip away at the lead. They scored three runs in the fourth and added another in the fifth to trailed 9-4 after five innings.

The Roadrunners scored three runs over the next three innings and took a 12-4 lead going in to the final inning.

In the top of the eighth, the ThunderWolves rallied for six runs on six hits. Mike Gonzalez (Jr., Los Angeles, Calif.) highlighted the inning with a three-run homerun. 

Trailing by two in their final at bat, the Pack was retired in order and fell, 12-10.

During game two, Matthews had control of his pitches from the outset and limited the potent Roadrunner lineup to just four hits.

Logan Gibbons (Sr., Taylorsville, Utah) hit a two-out solo homerun to left field to give the Pack an early one run lead.

Clinging to the 1-0 lead for most of the game, CSU Pueblo added two runs in the sixth on a leadoff homerun from Welch and a sac fly from Gonzalez plated the third run for the ThunderWolves.

Matthews pitched out of a jam twice in the contest including a bases loaded jam in the third inning but Matthews retired the side with a strikeout looking.

In the sixth, Matthews allowed his only run of the game, hitting the leadoff batter and allowing an RBI-double.

Jacob Garcia (R-So., Romoland, Calif.) was called on to pitch in relief to begin the home half of the seventh and he would give up one walk in the inning before another pitching change brought in Ramirez who struckout the final batter of the game to come away with a 3-1 win on the road.

CSU Pueblo (3-7, 1-5 RMAC) and MSU Denver will finish the series Friday with two more games scheduled. Because of poor weather forecast in the Denver region, the doubleheader will be played in Pueblo at 12 p.m. at Rawlings Field.

GAMEDAY INFORMATION
A limited number of fans will be allowed inside Rawlings Field. Fans are required to wear a mask at all times. Concessions will be closed and no food will be allowed. Fans can bring their own non-alcoholic beverages. Fans will also be subject to a temperature check and health screening. Click Here for full details on the Pack's fan policy under the new guidelines.