SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. - The Colorado State University Pueblo opened a four-game weekend series here Friday afternoon by posting a 3-1 loss to San Francisco State University at Moloney Field.
With the loss, the ThunderWolves fall to 0-4 on the season, while SFSU improves to 4-1 on the season.
The Pack appeared headed to its first win of the season as they led 1-0 heading into the bottom of the eighth inning thanks to an outstanding starting pitching performance from junior
Zach Pratt (Belton, Mo./Metropolitan CC). Pratt pitched seven shutout innings as he allowed just one hit, while walking one and fanning seven.
But in the bottom of the eighth, the Pack turned the game over to its closer, sophomore
Jacob Petersheim (Broadway, Va./Broadway). Petersheim (0-1) retired the first batter he faced, before allowing a single to AJ Schrader and then Matt Sugden followed with a single to put two runners on base. The next hitter, Daniel Santos hit into a fielder's choice as a pinch hitter for the second out. The next hitter, Sammy Gonzales drilled a pitch to center for an RBI double to tie the game and then Michael Cunningham followed with a 2-run single to push its lead to 3-1. Petersheim would end the inning by striking out Nick Upstill.
In the ninth, the Pack put two runners on base with one out thanks to an error and a walk issued to sophomore pinch hitter
Brady Ingalls (Parker, Colo./Ponderosa), but Mario Vargas, who was the third pitcher of the game, would induce senior first baseman
Reggie Williams (Castle Rock, Colo./Douglas County) to hit into a 6-4-3 double play to end the game and pick up his first save of the season.
CSU Pueblo once again struggled with runners on base as they stranded nine, including leaving the bases loaded in the fourth inning. For the game, the Pack were outhit, 5-4, but drew three walks from SFSU pitching. Through four games this season, the Pack have left 37 runners on base.
The Pack's lone run in the game came in the top of the fourth inning as redshirt senior shortstop
Trey Vasquez (Greeley, Colo./Dodge City CC), reached on a one-out single to left center, moved to second on a stolen base and then advanced to third when junior designated hitter
Edmund King (Imperial Beach, Calif./Southwestern) struck out, but reached first on a passed ball and then scored the first run of the game when senior centerfielder
Noah Hennings (Draper, Utah/Southern Idaho) reached on an error by SFSU first baseman Kody Gardner. The Pack would eventually load the bases after sophomore third baseman
Kysen Howard (Overland Park, Kan./Blue Valley Northwest) was hit by a pitch, but SFSU hurler Jordyn Eglite got out of the jam by striking out sophomore second baseman
Kolton Miller (Parker, Colo./Ponderosa) to end the inning.
The Pack had a chance to add another to its tally in the fifth inning as Williams drew a lead-off walk, moved to second on a passed ball and advanced to third on a ground out by junior catcher
Brady Prewitt (Raytown, Mo./Iowa Western), but was stranded at third as Gardner would strike out sophomore leftfielder
Elijah Borjas (Denver, Colo./Lakewood) and Vasquez to end the inning.
Vasquez paced the Pack offensively as he had two of their four hits, while Williams was on base twice as he drew two walks and stole a base.
Meanwhile, SFSU got five hits from five different players as Cunningham had two RBI in the win.
Justice Naraghi picked up the win in relief of Eglite as he pitched the eighth inning and allowed two hits, while striking out one and walking none. Eglite tossed seven innings and he allowed three hits and one unearned run, while walking two and striking out seven.
The two teams will continue the weekend series with a doubleheader on Saturday, Feb. 18 beginning at 12 p.m. MT, before concluding the series with a single nine inning game on Sunday, Feb. 19 beginning at 1 p.m. MT.
