ALAMOSA, Colo. (March 25, 2022) – After Colorado State University Pueblo baseball (17-10, 9-3 RMAC) had to fend off late rallies by Adams State University (2-17, 0-9 RMAC), the ThunderWolves claimed their sixth-consecutive series opening win of the season, 9-8. CSU Pueblo's Friday afternoon win over the Grizzlies marked the team's ninth win in 11 contests.
 
The Pack kicked off the game with two quick runs. Jacob Federico made it aboard to leadoff the game thanks to a Grizzlies error and was knocked home off a triple to left centerfield by Noah Hennings. 
 
Brady Prewitt was able to follow up the triple with an RBI single up the middle and gave the Pack a 2-0 advantage headed into the bottom half of the first.
 
Adams State tied it up in the bottom of first off a handful of base hits and forced the ThunderWolves to keep the offense going. Brock Rodrigues slapped a double down the right field line to start the second off and was scored off a sacrifice fly by Hennings two at-bats later.
 
Tim McIntyre settled in on the mound and defended his offense's one-run lead with a one-two-three second inning.
 
The Pack bats returned the favor to McIntyre and unloaded in the ensuing frame. Ty Lewis launched a one-out homer to reenergize the ThunderWolves. After being able to load the bases, CSU Pueblo crossed in another run off a Rodrigues sacrifice fly scored Matt Shea from third.
 
Hennings batted in his third and fourth runs of the afternoon off a modest single to leftfield that permitted Tyson Pallatt and Reggie Williams to score. The four run inning opened it up for the Pack to take a 7-2 lead after three.
 
Trey Vasquez scored in the fourth inning off a Shea sacrifice flyout and expanded the lead once more. 
 
With an 8-2 lead, the ThunderWolves had a strong cushion headed into the second half of the contest. The Grizzlies' bats knocked home two more runs in the fifth and condensed the Pack lead.
 
In the sixth, Lewis gave one more insurance run for the Pack efforts and expanded the lead to 9-4 off a ground rule double that scored Prewitt.
 
The Adams State team refused to yield easily. Off two consecutive doubles and another home run, the Grizzlies clawed back into contention in the sixth inning and shrunk the Pack lead to 9-7.
 
Adams once again threatened in the seventh. After two singles advanced a runner to third, Charlie Williams took over on the mound and silenced the loud threat.
Charlie Williams trotted back onto the hill in the eighth and once again thwarted another two-out danger to maintain a 9-7 lead. The hurler surrendered a homer in the bottom of the ninth, but was able to retire three of the next four batters and clinch his first save of the 2022 campaign.
 
Hennings supplied four RBIs for the Pack off two base-hits, as Lewis was able to knock home two more runs to help the offensive efforts.
 
On the mound, McIntyre (6-0) clinched his sixth win of the season and Charlie Williams was able to hold on for his first save.
 
The Pack's 9-8 win over the Grizzlies moves them to 17-10 overall. The 17 wins are the most racked up by the ThunderWolves since 2019 and the 17-10 start to the season is the best since 2016.
 
CSU Pueblo takes on Adams State Saturday afternoon in Alamosa. First pitch for the doubleheader is set for noon.