DENVER, Colo. – Behind a balanced offensive attack and strong pitching, Colorado State University Pueblo powered past Regis, 10-3, in the first game of a Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference doubleheader here Saturday afternoon at Regis Baseball Field.
With the win, the ThunderWolves snap a five-game losing skid as they improve to 9-14 overall and 1-5 in the RMAC, while Regis fell to 10-17-1 overall and 1-8-1 in the league.
The Pack pounded out 14 hits, including multi-hit efforts from five different players, while limiting Regis to three runs in picking up a win in the first game of the twin bill.
CSU Pueblo wasted little time getting on the scoreboard as sophomore first baseman
Tyler Clementz (Gilbert, Ariz./Basha) delivered an RBI double in the first inning to score senior rightfielder
Jeremiah Sanchez (Pueblo, Colo./Pueblo West), who hit a double to open the game.
After Regis tied the game in the bottom half of the first on an RBI single by Ethan Wood, the Pack seized control for good in the second inning when redshirt senior shortstop
Kyle Miller (Pueblo, Colo./Colorado Mesa) launched a 2-run homer to give the Pack a 3-1 lead.
The ThunderWolves broke the game open in the third inning as they used four hits and two errors to plate three runs and take a 6-1 lead. In the inning, junior third baseman
Jimmy Pelletier (Lavel, Quebec/University of San Francisco) and senior second baseman
Devean Alvarez (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif./Chaffey College) each drove in runs with RBI singles, while an error on a failed pick off attempt by Jensen Planansky allowed another run to score for the Pack.
Pelletier, who was 3-for-3 at the plate with three runs scored and 2 RBI, continued his standout day in the fifth with an RBI double, and junior centerfielder
Logan Kelly (Mission Viejo, Calif./Capistrano Valley Christian) added a sacrifice fly to push the Pack's lead to 8-1.
Regis used an RBI single by Dylan Hearn to cut the Pack's lead to 8-2 in the bottom of the fifth, but the Pack answered emphatically in the seventh as Alvarez crushed a two-run home run to cap the scoring for the ThunderWolves.
The Rangers used an RBI single by pinch-hitter Aaron Kidd in the bottom of the seventh to cap the scoring.
Alvarez led the way offensively, going 3-for-4 with a home run, three RBI, and three stolen bases, while Miller added three hits and two RBI. Clementz chipped in a pair of hits, and an RBI, and senior leftfielder
Cooper Latino (Parker, Colo./Douglas County) was 2-for-4 with two runs scored in the win. The three steals by Alvarez are tied for fourth-most in a game by a Pack player and the most since
Noah Williams stole three bases last season against Regis.
On the mound, sophomore
Frank Flores Jr. (Colorado Springs, Colo./Air Academy) earned the win and improved to 2-2 on the season after allowing two runs on eight hits over five innings, while striking out four and walking four. Junior
Clayden Brandon (West Herriman, Utah/Western Nebraska CC) closed out the final two innings, surrendering one run while striking out one.
Wood paced the Regis with a 4-for-4 effort at the plate with an RBI and two runs scored as the Rangers tallied 10 hits in the game.
Ryan Chesser (0-5) took the loss on the mound for Regis as he tossed 2.2 innings and allowed seven hits and six runs (three earned), while striking out one and walking none.
Regis committed two errors and left 12 runners on base, while the Pack committed an error and stranded six.
The two teams concluded Saturday with another seven-inning game and then will conclude the series with a nine-inning game on Sunday, March 22, beginning at noon.
