PUEBLO, Colo. (Feb.18, 2022) – Thanks to two big innings from ThunderWolves, the Colorado State University Pueblo baseball team (4-5) took the first game of a four-game series over San Francisco State University (3-2) Friday afternoon.
 
Tim McIntyre got the nod for the Pack and took the mound with authority in the early innings. McIntyre retired his first six batters-faced and sent the game into the third in a 0-0 stalemate.
 
The Gators found their way on the board in the top of the third thanks to a two-run home run, and then tacked on another run in the fourth. The Pack trailed 3-0 after four innings of play, but they stayed persistent at the plate, notching hits in the fourth and the fifth innings.
 
Finally, after McIntyre retired the side in the top of the sixth, the Pack bats backed up their pitcher. Noah Hennings tallied his second hit of the game to start the frame and was followed by Brady Prewitt drawing a hit-by-pitch.
 
Trey Vasquez juiced the bases full after he legged out a bunt down the first base line. The ThunderWolves got on the board after Reggie Williams exhibited patience at the plate and drew a walk on a full-count. Matt Shea capitalized on the bases loaded situation and blasted a double to left center. Vasquez and Prewitt crossed home plate and the Pack had things all tied up at 3.
 
Williams soon scored off a Ty Lewis ground out to give the ThunderWolves a lead. To cap off the big inning for the Pack, Kysen Howard doubled to right center to bring home Shea. When the marathon inning was finally over, the Pack had pushed across five runs on the San Francisco State starting pitcher and gained a 5-3 lead after six innings.
 
The Pack surrendered one more run in the top of the seventh, but the Pack were persistent with getting their first win at home. 
 
Johnathan Ramirez shut down the top of the eighth from the mound and setup the Pack for another big inning.
 
Shea started the bottom of the eighth with a single and was ran for by Zac Hanenberg. Hanenberg stole second base and soon advanced to third off a throwing error. Ty Lewis followed with a single to right that allowed Hanenberg to score with ease. 
 
Howard and Jacob Federico were able to get aboard safely with two outs. Hennings slapped a single up the middle and pushed Howard and Federico across home plate to extend the ThunderWolves lead to 8-4 after eight innings.
 
In the top of the ninth, the Gators challenged the ThunderWolves and got two runners aboard early. Frank Wierman came on the mound to close and took care of business quickly with back-to-back strikeouts. His strikeouts secured his first save of the season and the ThunderWolves' 8-4 win over San Francisco State.
 
Hennings, Lewis and Shea each tallied two RBIs on the afternoon while each of the three notched multiple hits. Hennings' three hits in five at-bats led the ThunderWolves. Seven different batters from CSU Pueblo notched a hit in the win.
 
McIntyre took his second win of the season in six innings pitched. Ramirez tallied five strikeouts in 2.1 innings pitched while Weirman claimed his first save of the season.
 
CSU Pueblo baseball hosts a doubleheader against the Gators Saturday afternoon at noon. The Pack look to keep their momentum going throughout the final three games of the four-game set.