Box Score EMPORIA, Kan. (Feb. 12, 2022) – The Colorado State University Pueblo baseball team (3-3) fell to Emporia State University (3-3) Saturday afternoon in a 6-5 nail-biting non-conference game.
 
The ThunderWolves trailed early after the Hornets pushed a run across in the bottom of the first inning. After the first inning, the Pack defense settled in and Edwing Corrales prevented any offensive production from the mound over the next two frames.
 
After the Pack were held to a quiet first three innings, the CSU Pueblo bats came alive. Brady Prewitt led off the top of the fourth with a single up the middle and soon moved over to third over the next two batters. Finally, Kysen Howard slapped a pitch up the middle and sent Prewitt home from third.
 
The inning was not done there and Howard soon stole second base to move into scoring position. Gavin Rapoza seemed to have ended the inning with a grounder to third, but the Hornets committed an error and allowed Howard to score from third to send the game into the bottom of the fourth with the ThunderWolves ahead 2-1.
 
CSU Pueblo gained an insurance run in the top of fifth inning after patience at the plate. Eddie Rodriguez started the frame with a. hit followed by another from Noah Hennings. 
 
Prewitt walked and loaded the bases for Trey Vasquez. Vasquez was hit by a pitch and earned an RBI after Rodriguez was able to waltz home on the dead ball. The Rodriguez run gave the ThunderWolves a 3-1 lead headed into the bottom of the fifth.
 
"We missed out on some opportunities early in the game to extend the lead," said Head Coach Bobby Applegate.
 
To the dismay of the CSU Pueblo defense, the Hornets bounced back in their offensive half of the fifth. Emporia State loaded the bases early in the inning and did not relent. Before the fifth inning concluded, the Hornets crossed five runs to give them a 6-3 lead.
 
"We ran into a hiccup in the fifth and we got down, but I was pleased with the fight in the offense in the back innings," said Applegate.
 
After coming on in relief in the fifth, Johnathan Ramirez did not allow a hit in his final three innings pitched.
 
In the eighth, the Pack still found themselves trailing 6-3 and needing an offensive surge. With one out in the eighth Tyson Pallatt reached on a dropped third strike and Max Pawela started a rally after he drew a walk on four-straight pitches. 
 
Rodriguez drew another walk to load the bases with one out and was followed by a sacrifice flyout to right field from Hennings. The Hennings sac fly sent Pallatt home and moved Pawela to third. Reggie Williams followed next and sent a 2-0 pitch back up the middle for an RBI single that sent Pawela across home plate.
 
The Pack entered the bottom half of the eighth fired up and only behind 6-5. Ramirez appeared back on the mound and shut down the Hornets by striking out the side in straight order.
 
Despite the momentum shift in the eighth, the Hornets' closer came out and silenced the middle of the Pack order. The quiet top of ninth sealed the ThunderWolves' 6-5 loss to drop the CSU Pueblo early record to 3-3.
 
Rodriguez went 2-3 for the Pack and took in a run as a baserunner. Hennings, Williams, Vasquez and Howard each tallied an RBI apiece to round out the offensive performances for the Pack.
 
Applegate concluded by saying, "We are learning a lot about our club and we look forward to competing for a road series win tomorrow."
 
CSU Pueblo baseball looks to bounce back Sunday at noon in the series finale against Emporia State. The Pack lead the non-conference series 2-1 after a doubleheader sweep on Friday and the Saturday loss.