- Colorado State University Pueblo baseball snapped a four-game losing streak in emphatic fashion Saturday afternoon, using a balanced offensive attack and a strong outing on the mound to defeat Northwest Nazarene 14–7 in the series finale at Elmore Vail Field in Nampa, Idaho.
The ThunderWolves (8-9) erupted for 15 hits and scored in eight of the first nine innings to secure the road victory against a solid Nighthawks squad that entered the day with a 14-8 record. The offensive explosion helped the Pack halt their skid and close the series on a high note after a tough stretch earlier in the week.
CSU Pueblo wasted little time setting the tone offensively. The ThunderWolves jumped ahead early, plating two runs in the first inning before adding two more in the second to quickly build a 4–0 lead. The Pack continued to apply pressure throughout the game, scoring single runs in the third and fourth innings before delivering their biggest blow in the fifth when they erupted for four runs to extend the lead to 10–0.
Northwest Nazarene finally broke through with a four-run fifth inning of its own, but the ThunderWolves immediately responded. CSU Pueblo added two runs in the sixth and continued to tack on insurance runs in the seventh and eighth innings to maintain control of the contest.
A trio of ThunderWolves powered the offensive surge. Center fielder Logan Kelly delivered one of the best performances of the season, going 4-for-5 at the plate with a home run, a triple, a double and four runs batted in while also scoring three times.
Taehyung Kim also had a huge day offensively, finishing 3-for-4 with a home run, a double, three RBIs and three runs scored. George Andrews added another long ball for the Pack, finishing with two hits, a home run and two RBIs while scoring three runs.
Several other ThunderWolves contributed in the offensive outburst. Kyle Miller recorded two hits and drove in a run, while Cody Macias added an RBI knock. Jake Hixenbaugh chipped in with a hit and an RBI as CSU Pueblo's lineup consistently put pressure on the Nighthawks pitching staff.
On the mound, Tyler Clementz delivered another strong performance to earn the win and remain unbeaten on the season. The right-hander improved to 3-0 after throwing five innings, allowing four runs on seven hits while striking out four.
Cole Bloomer and Luke Ruby handled the remainder of the work out of the bullpen. Bloomer pitched 1.1 innings before Ruby closed out the game with 2.2 innings, allowing just one run and striking out two to secure the victory.
Northwest Nazarene recorded 12 hits in the game and attempted to rally late, but the ThunderWolves' early offensive explosion proved too much to overcome.
Saturday's victory also marked the final non-conference game of the regular season for CSU Pueblo. The ThunderWolves will now turn their attention to Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference play next weekend, when the Pack host Colorado Mesa University in a four-game series at Rawlings Field in Pueblo.
