PUEBLO, Colo. – The Colorado State University Pueblo baseball team concluded its season opening three-game homestand here Tuesday afternoon with an 8-3 setback to the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs in a non-conference match-up at Rawlings Field.

With the setback, the ThunderWolves fall to 0-3 on the season, while UCCS improved to 2-7 on the year.

For the second straight game, the Pack struggled with runners on base as they stranded 11 in Tuesday's game, which came just three days after leaving eight runners on a base in a 4-2 setback to then 16th-ranked St. Edwards. Through three games this season, the Pack have left 28 runners on base.

Tuesday's game also featured six double plays, including four by the Pack. UCCS had two double plays and left five runners on base. Both teams also combined for 24 hits in game. 

In Tuesday's matinee, the Pack collected 10 hits, including two hits each from junior designated hitter Brady Prewitt (Raytown, Mo./Iowa Western CC) and sophomore third baseman Kysen Howard (Overland Park, Kan./Blue Valley Northwest).

The Pack jumped out to an 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first as senior first baseman Reggie Williams (Castle Rock, Colo./Douglas County) led off with a double that didn't leave the infield as he popped the ball up into the air and the 20-plus mile-and-hour wind gust held the ball in the air and it fell near the pitcher's mound. The next hitter, Prewitt, followed with another double, this one to left that allowed Williams to score the first run of the game. The third hitter of the game for the Pack, sophomore leftfielder Elijah Borjas (Denver, Colo./Lakewood) walked, before UCCS starting pitcher Ryder Mancuso would regroup as he retired the next three Pack hitters in order to leave runners at first and third.

UCCS would take a 2-1 lead in the top of the second thanks to a walk, a single, a bunt and a two-run single off the bat of Evan Steinberger against graduate student Cole Martin (Ridgecrest, Calif./Cerra Coso CC). 

In the bottom of the second, the Pack put two more runners on base thanks to a lead-off single by Howard and a walk to Williams, but Mancuso once again got out of the jam by forcing
Prewitt to pop up to shallow left center.

The Mountain Lions would added two more runs to its tally in the top of the third inning thanks to a 2-run single by Kit Wigington off of Pack sophomore reliever Owen Rudolphi (Eureka, Mo./Eureka). Wigington's single made the score 4-1.

In the sixth, Howard and freshman rightfielder Jeremiah Sanchez (Pueblo, Colo./Pueblo West) drew back-to-back two out walks, but John Hoffman, who was the second of three UCCS pitchers in the game, would strike out sophomore second baseman Kolton Miller (Parker, Colo./Ponderosa) to end the inning.

UCCS pushed its lead to 6-1 in the top of the seventh thanks to three singles, including a 2-RBI single by Caleb Stubbings.

The Pack would get a run back in the bottom of the seventh thanks to a one-out home run by Prewitt over the left field fence. Prewitt's homer brought the Pack within 6-2.

In the bottom of the eighth, the Pack scored another run on an pinch-hit double down the left field line by junior Edmund King (Imperial Beach, Calif./Southwestern) and would put another runner on base when Williams drew a two-out walk. Following the walk, UCCS replaced Hoffman on the mound with Jon Sotto and Sotto was able to get out of the jam after forcing Prewitt to hit into a fielder's choice to third base, but on the play, freshman pinch runner Jake Olguin-Pacheco (Denver, Colo./Horizon) was put out at third base to end the inning.

UCCS added two more insurance runs in the ninth thanks to two hits and a throwing error by Olguin-Pacheco in right field.

Sotto would retire the Pack in order in the bottom of the ninth to seal the win and record his first save of the season.

The Mountain Lions finished with 14 hits in the game as Wigington went 4-for-5 at the plate, while Stubbings, Steinberger, Aaron Brakel and Kasey Campbell each had two hits in the win. Stubbings had three RBI, while Wigington and Steinberger each had two RBI.

Martin (0-1) took the loss as he pitched the first two innings and allowed two hits and two runs, while walking one an striking out none for the Pack. Rudolphi pitched three innings in relief and allowed six hits and two runs, while walking one and fanning none.

Hoffman (1-0) got the win in relief for UCCS as he pitched 4.2 innings and allowed four hits and one run, while walking three and striking out four.

The Pack stole two bases in the game and recorded four doubles in the loss

CSU Pueblo will next be in action this coming weekend (Feb. 17-19) as they play four games in three days in San Francisco, Calif., against San Francisco State. The series will begin with a single game on Friday, Feb. 17 at 2 p.m. PT, before playing a doubleheader on Saturday, Feb. 18 that begins at 11 a.m. PT and then concluding the series with a single game on Sunday, Feb. 19 at 12 p.m. PT.