Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Game 1 Box Score

Game 2 Box Score

DENVER - Metro State split the first two games of a four game series in a doubleheader with Colorado State-Pueblo on Friday afternoon.  The Roadrunners lost a heartbreaker in extra innings 8-7 in the opener, but exacted revenge with a late run to win 10-9 in the night cap.

Game One
Ten innings weren't enough for the Roadrunners as the Thunderwolves pushed a run across in the top of the tenth to take the first game of the weekend series. 

The nine-inning game started off looking to be a pitcher's duel, but quickly exploded with offense from both sides.  CSU-Pueblo struck first with a run in the top of the fourth, but the Roadrunners answered in the bottom half with a Darryl Baca (Loveland, Colo./Loveland H.S.) single plating Alex Schrupp (Parker, Colo./Regis Jesuit H.S.) to tie the game at 1-1.

Two innings later, the Thunderwolves burst the game open with four runs aided by five straight walks by Metro State pitchers. Daron Schulthies (Littleton, Colo./Heritage H.S.) responded with a three-run home run to left field for a game-high three runs batted in to pull Metro within one run at 5-4.

CSU-Pueblo again scored in the top half seventh, this time two runs from a sacrifice and an RBI single.  The Roadrunners pulled even in the bottom of the seventh inning after doubles from Baca and Purvis making the score 7-7.

Metro State escaped a bases-loaded jam in the top of the ninth, but couldn't muster up a run in its half of the inning, causing extra innings.  Andrew Castaneda drove in the winning run in the 10th inning with his game-leading fourth hit.  The Roadrunners left without an answer despite the leadoff hitter reaching, and lost by a final score of 8-7.

Ty Jacobs (Denver/Cherokee Trail H.S.) suffered the loss on the mound after two innings of late game work pushing his record to 2-3.  Darryl Baca (Loveland, Colo./Loveland H.S.) and Gavin Purvis (Albuquerque, N.M./Cibola H.S.) led the way with three hits each.

Game Two
Metro State changed the tides in the second game with an impressive offensive performance which proved to be just enough for a win. 

After falling behind early, due to two unearned first-inning runs, the Roadrunners bats came alive for a six-run fourth inning.  Five singles knocked in the first three runs, but it was Darryl Baca (Loveland, Colo./Loveland H.S.)'s three-run homer to left field that broke the 5-5 tie and pushed Metro State up by three. 

CSU-Pueblo answered with a run in the top of the fifth, but Erik Cammall (San Diego, Calif./St. Augustine H.S.) drove in a run in the bottom half to push the lead back to three at 9-6. The one run proved to not be enough to hold off the powerful Thunderwolves.

After striking out the first two batters of the final inning, Justin Arceneaux (Chino, Calif./Don Antonio Lugo H.S.) surrendered three straight singles and was pulled for late-game specialist Ty Jacobs (Denver/Cherokee Trail H.S.).  But with the bases loaded, pinch hitter Derek DiCarlo smashed a bases-clearing double to right-center to tie the game at 9-9.  Jacobs did not relinquish the lead, causing an inning ending fly out from the dangerous Andrew Castaneda.  The Roadrunners would not let this game go into extra innings again.

After a controversial foul ball call on what appeared to be a walk off home run from Mitch Gibbons (Franktown, Colo./Ponderosa H.S.), he reached on an infield single.  Robbie Nickels (Phoenix, Ariz./Horizon H.S.) dropped a sacrifice bunt, pushing Gibbons to second and then he advanced to third on a balk by ThunderWolves pitcher, Clayton Bishop.  After two intentional walks split by a wild pitch, the bases were loaded and ripe for redemption as Ty Jacobs (Denver/Cherokee Trail H.S.) walked to the plate.  As perfect as the moment appeared to be, Jacobs didn't even need to take the bat off his shoulder to earn the game-winning RBI.   Bishop walked in the winning run on four straight pitches. 

Metro State collected 15 hits with each starter earning at least one.  Erik Cammall (San Diego, Calif./St. Augustine H.S.) and Mitch Gibbons (Franktown, Colo./Ponderosa H.S.) lead the way with three apiece.  Ty Jacobs (Denver/Cherokee Trail H.S.) earned the win, pushing his record back to .500 at 3-3. 

The series will finish Saturday with a doubleheader at noon.