It didn't take long for CSU-Pueblo to assert its dominance on Saturday afternoon, scoring five first inning runs en route to a 17-1 rout of the University of Sioux Falls at Rawlings Field in Pueblo, Colo.
The Thunder Wolves pounded out 14 hits--the most for the team this season---to improve to 3-2 overall.
The start of the series did not foreshadow what was to come today, as the Purple and Black could not replicate their early-inning success from Friday's 4-3, 11-inning victory over Wolves. The Cougars (1-1, 0-0 NSIC) finished with more errors (5) than hits (4).
Henry Ojeda (0-1) gave up six earned runs on eight hits for the loss. The junior righty posted four strikeouts, while walking four.
CSU-Pueblo opened the game with three straight hits and batted around in the frame, scoring five runs before senior catcher Dylan Dwyer caught a man stealing second to end the first inning onslaught.
The Wolves tacked on a run in the second, three in the third and broke the game open with eight runs in the sixth inning.
The Cougars broke up the shut out in the top of the eighth, when Michael Downs reached on an uncaught third strike and stole second before scoring on Gunner Peterson's RBI groundout.
The day belonged to junior southpaw and former Nicholls State transfer Jesse Bristow (win, 1-0), who spun six innings of sparkling ball before passing the ball off to his bullpen. Bristow scattered four hits while fanning out seven and did not issue a free pass. The combination of Thomas Bevington, Austin Sylvester and Dillon Given combined for three innings of no-hit, one run baseball to shut down the Cougars.
Making their debut on the mound for USF were junior college transfers Kevin Handt (1.1 innings) and Jordan Jeske (2.0). Trevor Crow, Gunner Peterson, Noah Durkin and Jeremy Varner each tallied a hit.
Durkin has collected four hits in USF's first two games and has a four-game hitting streak that dates back to the 2013 season.
The Cougars struck out 12 times and left three men on base.
The teams will square off in the rubber game on Sunday, with first pitch scheduled for 11 a.m. (MT) in Pueblo.
