The Pack will wake up in the morning owning a share of first place in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference after beating rival Colorado Christian College 5-2. Coach Stan Sanchez got a solid outing from sophomore starting pitcher Mike Fabrizio who worked a scoreless seven innings and allowed just six hits. Fabrizio picked up his sixth win of the season and left the game with the Pack leading 5-0.

The bats didn’t take long to heat up for the Pack either. The first inning saw the first run of the game when J.T. Greenhood doubled the deep left. With the hit, Greenhood increased his season high hit streak to 19 games.

The Pack bats exploded again in the fifth inning scoring four more runs. They capitalized on a few miscues from their opponents. After an error by the Christian right-fielder allowed the pack to scored unearned run, Chris Schindler singled through left side to push the lead up for CSU-Pueblo.

In the end, the 5-0 lead was enough for the Pack as they extend their winning streak to three, they have also won 12 of their last 13. Christian tacked on two runs in the ninth inning but it proved to be too big of a deficit.

This was the first game of a four game series that the two schools are set to play over the Easter weekend.  Though much of the season remains, this is the first time this year that CSU-Pueblo has seen first place.

The Pack is looking for the first RMAC regular season title since 2004 when they also won the RMAC tournament. 

After the Pack finishes their four game home-stand they are scheduled to hit the road during three of the next four weeks before they finish the season with the RMAC tournament.

Even though the Pack fell behind in the early innings, they would come on strong late in the game to complete the sweep against Regis.

The second game started off with the Rangers scoring two runs in the top of the third inning that gave them the early lead. Those would be the last runs of the day for Regis. After the third inning ThunderWolves pitcher Justine Bosio would settle down and take control of the game.

Bosio would not allow another run and only gave up two more hits for the rest of the game. Her performance on the mound allowed the Pack a chance to rally, and rally back they did. The Pack scored two runs in the bottom of the third and fourth innings. These runs gave the ThunderWolves a 4-2 lead as they headed into the later innings.

A leadoff homerun from Sarah Bosshart would add another insurance run for the Pack in the bottom of the sixth. Samantha Rios would also reach base on a bunt single and later score off a Snyder triple. The added insurance runs would be more than enough, as the ThunderWolves defeated the Rangers 6-2 in the second game.

The Pack’s record improved to 11-7 overall and 9-5 in the conference. More impressive is the lady ThunderWolves’ continued success at home with their 8-2 record at Rawlings Field. Bosio achieved her sixth win of the season.

The ThunderWolves would also sweep the Rangers in the double header that following Sunday. Next weekend, the Pack will be away to face Ft. Lewis in a four game series, starting with a double header Saturday, March 24, at noon.

The ThunderWolves’ day started off  Saturday March 17, with a huge first inning. Alexa Snyder got the Pack going with a single to start the game. Snyder then advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt from Kelsey Wagner. The next batter, Ariel Lopez, followed with another single that scored Snyder and gave the ThunderWolves their first lead of the day.

Pitcher Marissa Reyes cleared the bases with a homer to left field that added two more runs. The homerun was Reyes’ first of the year and provided the Pack with a 3-0 lead as they entered the second inning.

The lead would be short-lived as the Rangers responded in the top of the second. Regis put together three singles, a walk and an error which resulted into three runs and tied the ball game. They would add another run in the third, which gave them a 4-3 lead.

It took the ThunderWolves until the fifth inning to answer.  Reyes helped her own cause as she rallied the Pack with a two-out single to right field. She would later reach second on a balk. Justine Bosio’s double to right field scored Reyes and allowed them to pull even.

The Pack would add another run in the sixth that provided them the lead, a lead they would not relinquish. The run in the sixth was the result of Aimee Spathias’s single up the middle that scored McKenzie Joseph, who tripled earlier in the inning.

In the top of the seventh Caitlin Wambeke came in to close the game with a 1-2-3 inning that provided the ThunderWolves with a 4-5 victory.

Reyes not only hit her first homerun of the season but also notched her fourth victory of the year, as well.

ThunderWolves baseball team loses three games in a series v. Colorado Mesa. Photo by Chris Lujan

The ThunderWolves lost three out of the four games, the one win coming on Sunday. The Pack fell to 7-10 for the season and 4-4 in the conference.

The disappointment began Friday with a heart breaking loss in the 9^th inning. After being down by three for most of the early innings, the Pack fought back scoring two runs on a hit by centerfielder J.T Greenhood, senior.

After the 6^th inning the pitching duel continued between the Maverick’s Nolan Snell and the ThunderWolves’ Mike Fabrizio. Both pitchers performed extremely well, allowing few base runners throughout the game. The battle ended at the top of the 9^th when Mesa scored two runs on three hits and a timely error by the right fielder.

The ThunderWolves were unable to answer in the bottom of the 9^th handing the first game to Mesa. Fabrizio’s record became 2-2 for the year. Snell recorded 11 strikeouts and improved his record 4-0.

Saturday’s double-header only added to the Packs’ problems as the Mesa Mavericks won both games in a close fashion. The first game was a 7^th inning battle that resulted in the ThunderWolves coming up one run short and lost the game 4-3.

The second game was yet another tight matchup lasting till the 9^th. In the top of the inning a lead-off walk and infield error would put Maverick players on third and second bases with two outs. The next batter, Mesa’s Jeff Popick, would then single up the middle scoring the two unearned runs that resulted in another Maverick victory.

Sunday was the last chance for the Pack to avoid a sweep. It was a hard-fought game with momentum switching sides inning by inning. The Mavericks jumped out to any early 1-0 lead in the top of the 3^rd, only to be erased as the Pack answered with three of their own runs in the bottom of the inning. 

Mesa fought back scoring runs in the 4th and 5th innings to tie the game going into the 6th. The Pack again took control of the game as they scored two runs in the bottom half of the inning to regain the lead. Mesa responded by tying the game up with a run in the 8th.

The two teams would head into the 9^th and final inning with Mesa behind by one run.  In the top of the 9^th the first batter Colton Little reached on a crucial error by ThunderWolves shortstop Michael Knueppel. With the tying run on first, the Mavericks put in Jake Kluge, a pitch runner for Little.

Kluge would eventually steal second and score on a double by Tamatoa Demello, allowing Mesa to tie the game heading into the bottom of the 9^th.

With the score all knotted up, down to their last three outs and facing a possible sweep, another loss seemed to be inevitable for the Pack.   Andrew Castaneda stepped into the batter’s box for his first at bat of the day. A lead-off double down the right field line gave the ThunderWolves new life.

After a line out by Evans, two consecutive walks to Chase Lacomb and Greenhold would load the bases for the Pack. After Jovany Valenzuel struck out the ThunderWolves were down to their third and final out. At the bottom of the 9^th, with the bases loaded, two outs and a tie ball game, junior Curtis Cowell steps up to the plate.

This was  a situation every player dreams of. The hero or the goat, Cowell’s at bat seems to be scripted by Hollywood.  Cowell seizes the opportunity by drilling a single up the middle, scoring the game-winning run with his walk-off heroics. Cowell’s single allowed the Pack to get a game back from the Mavericks.

Ty Trahern shoots a basket against Fort Lewis Feb. 11. Photo by Tyler Shomaker.

“I feel great,” Trahern said. “I have never had a game like that in my life. I’ve been here for five years and this is the greatest feeling I’ve had since I’ve been here.”

The game started with Adams State pulling away with an early lead. The Grizzlies had the lead through the entire game of regulation. While CSU-Pueblo kept applying pressure to the Adams State offense, the Grizzlies looked to have the edge over the ThunderWolves. With foul trouble coming early for the Pack, key players, like senior Andre Martin, were forced to sit out.

While Adams State continued to outshoot the ThunderWolves, CSU-Pueblo caught a break when the Grizzlies racked up fouls that brought the Pack back into the game. The calls were not without controversy however, as coaches from Adams State began screaming and taunting the refs. 

CSU-Pueblo was led in scoring by Trahern with a career-high 34 points. Velasquez ended the night with 22 points and six assists. The ThunderWolves are now 12-10 overall and 9-9 in the RMAC. The Pack will take on Nebraska-Kearney Feb. 17.

Kendall Babler receives a pass early in game against Adams State. Photo by Tyler Shomaker.

“We started off good and unfortunately let them come back,” junior Laurel Kearsley said. “That‘s bad. But we all came together and we finished the night with a win.”

CSU-Pueblo led in scoring because of Kearsley and senior Kendall Babler. Kearsley had a career night, scoring 22 points and pulling down 13 rebounds on the way to her fifth double-double. Babler scored 11 points, with most coming from free throws.

The ThunderWolves are now 18-4 overall and 15-3 in the RMAC. Next up for the Pack is Nebraska-Kearney Feb. 17.

Senior guard Ty Trahern shoots a free throw against UCCS Mountain Lions, Saturday, Feb. 4. Photo by Marcus Hill.

They were ousted 85-84 Dec. 31, after the Mountain Lions stopped a CSU-Pueblo comeback. Saturday night’s result was much different as the Pack returned to Pueblo with a 76-71 victory.

The night started rough for the ThunderWolves who missed four of their first six shots and turned the ball over five times in the first five minutes. The Mountain Lions were up by as many as 11 in the first half, but the ThunderWolves managed to cut the lead to one point by halftime.

They got off to a quicker start in the second half hitting four straight shots, which included three three-pointers. Sophomore Jed Knafelc had a team-high, four three-pointers and added 16 points to help his team. 

Although the Pack only shot 39 percent from the field, they played solid defense, holding the Mountain Lions to 41.5 percent shooting for the game and forcing them to commit 17 turnovers.

Shooting woes did not affect the team’s three-point shots; however as the Thunderwolves shot 11-22 from beyond the arc. The Mountain Lions hit one less than the Pack, but it took the 33 attempts to do so, shooting only 30 percent from the three-point line.

Junior guard Bryse Velasquez led the Pack in scoring with 19 points. Velasquez hit six straight free throws in the final two minutes of the game helping the CSU-Pueblo hold on to the lead. The ThunderWolves were 15-20 as a team in the second half and 19-24 for the game, shooting nearly 80 percent on the night.

Senior Andre Martin had 14 points and grabbed a team-high seven rebounds. Senior Ty Trahern scored 10 points, five boards, four assists and four steals.

The ThunderWolves are currently No. 11 in the Rocky Mountain Athletics Confernce and are looking to climb back into the conference race against Fort Lewis Friday, Feb. 10. 

Trevor Grant, a sophomore at 174 pounds, competes against Nabraska-Kearney Thursday, Jan. 26. Photo by Tyler Lundquist.

After getting out to a quick start winning the first two matches in the 125 and 133 weight classes, the Pack saw a string of defeats losing their final seven out of eight matches.

The Pack knew it would be a challenge, especially when it came to the 149, 157 and 165 weight classes. Kearney’s three duelers were ranked No. 2 in the nation and two of them were facing below .500 wrestlers for the Pack.  Although the Pack fought hard, all three fell short by hefty margins.

Even after a string of Kearney wins, the Pack was still in a position to take the lead. CSU-Pueblo sophomore Trevor Grant was faced with taking on the fourth straight nationally-ranked Loper in his 174-pound duel against eight-ranked Mark Fiala.

In one of the tightest matches of the night, Grant scored a late take down to seal a three-point victory for the Pack, inching them back in the hunt for an upset.

With Grant’s upset win, Pack coach Dax Charles must have been feeling good about their chances going forward. Pack junior Adam Carey, in the 184-pound weight class and ranked seventh in the nation, took on Ross Brunkhardt with a chance to bring the Pack within two points of the powerhouse Lopers. 

The match went into two sudden death overtimes, the second in a row for Carey, when Brunkhardt finally completed the upset with a take down.

Though it would be a long road back, the Pack still had two chances to make a comeback with their final two wrestlers, 197-pound freshman Cody Johnson and heavyweight Bill Gray.  But it just wasn’t the Pack’s night.  Johnson and Gray were both defeated, sealing a 25-10 Nebraska-Kearney win.

After a three-match win streak, CSU-Pueblo has dropped the last two.  With the loss, the Pack’s record drops to 7-5 overall.

CSU-Pueblo takes to the road in their next two conference duels when they take on Colorado Mesa and Western State before returning to Massari Arena against Oklahoma City University Feb. 8, at 7 p.m.

The ThunderWolves men's basketball team scores against Chadron State, Friday, Jan 20. Photo by Sam Acar.

Lead by junior guard Ryan Arel, the Pack managed to have their best shooting night so far this season, shooting 60 percent from the field and 55 percent from the three-point line.  Arel sparked the team going into the second half knocking down two key three-point shots with just minutes remaining in the first, which gave the Pack a comfortable 17-point lead going into halftime.

Even more impressive than the Pack’s shooting was their staggering defensive performance.  The Pack forced the Eagles into 14 turnovers and held them to 41 percent shooting from the field.  They didn’t waste opportunities to capitalize on the Eagles’ mistakes either. Of the 14 forced turnovers, the Pack scored 21 points, including 11 fast break points.

The overall team effort allowed the Pack a have great start and maintain the lead throughout.  Contributors included Andre Martin’s 18 points, 4 steals, and an emphatic alley-op dunk to spark the crowd of more than 1500. But Martin wasn’t the only one contributing on the offensive end; the Pack had four of their five starters in double-digit scoring.

The Pack dominated almost all statistical categories including rebounds, led by Bryse Velasquez who pulled down seven.  Velasquez also scored 18 points along with 11 assists and two steals, a season high for Velasquez.

CSU-Pueblo needed a big performance from Velasquez as they saw their leading scorer Arden Dennis, a junior college transfer, go down with a season-ending knee injury Jan. 14 against Regis University.  Dennis had been averaging 14 points a game and shooting 43 percent from three-point territory.

Although Dennis wasn’t missed Friday night this could be a big loss for the Pack in the future as the RMAC schedule continues.

Kendall Babler looks to score against Kearney-Nebraska. Photo by Tyler Shomaker.

The CSU-Pueblo’s women’s basketball game between CSU-Pueblo and Nebraska-Kearney Saturday, Jan. 21, was intense from the very start, but the ThunderWolves had the better hands and defeated Nebraska-Kearney 52-38.

The game started with both teams’ plays mirroring the other.  Both were tough on defense, as expected, and both shot equally poor.  The ThunderWolves then went on an unanswered nine-point scoring run and started to gain momentum.  The Lopers, who rebounded well early on in the game, began to lose control and the game continued to go in CSU-Pueblo’s favor.

“Tonight we were a team and played well as a team,” senior Kendall Babler said. “I simply came in, did my job and it seemed to be enough.”

Babler, who came into Saturday night’s game averaging 12.2 points, and the rest of the ThunderWolves had little time to prepare for the Nebraska-Kearney game after playing Chadron State the night before.

As points from the field were scarce, the ThunderWolves relied on successful free throw shots to put them ahead. CSU-Pueblo shot 29 free throws throughout the game. Babler led the team in free throws, shooting 8-for-10 from the line.

Nebraska-Kearny’s only threat in the first half seemed to be Vanessa Leeper-Jones with her 4 points. Her team would help rally back in the second half as all the starters for Nebraska-Kearney checked in. With seven minutes left in the game, the Lopers were down by six points, but the steam quickly faded and the ThunderWolves came out with a victory.

CSU-Pueblo will be on the road for their next three games. The road trip starts Jan. 27 when they take on New Mexico Highlands.