ALAMOSA, Colo. – The Grizzlies are back at home this weekend as they take on Colorado State University- Pueblo for the second time this season. CSU- Pueblo swept the first series which was also the first three games of the season for Adams State.
OPPONENT: CSU-Pueblo ThunderWolves (17-20, 12-12 RMAC)
WHEN: Thursday, April 18 – 3.m.
Friday, April 19 (DH) 12 p.m. – 3 p.m.
Saturday, April 20 – 12 p.m.
WHERE: Alamosa Colo. – ASU Baseball Field
First Pitch
• Adams State Baseball will look to come back after being swept last weekend by Colorado Mesa.
• Their opponent is the struggling CSU-Pueblo ThunderWolves who are on a four game losing streak.
• Adams State will head up to Denver next weekend as they take on Regis University.
Quick Hits
Adams State Baseball History
• Grizzlies Baseball begins its seventh season as an NCAA sport. The program was re-instituted prior to the 2013 season after a 35 year hiatus.
• Prior to the 2013, Adams State last sponsored baseball in 1976 season when the program was still a member of the NAIA.
• Adams State enjoyed quite a bit of success winning back-to-back RMAC championships in 1973 and 1974.
• The Grizzlies posted the best overall record in the conference in each of the last four years (1973-76) while sponsoring the sport before it was discontinued.
The Capra File
• Head Coach
James Capra has led the Grizzlies Baseball in each of the last six seasons. Coach Capra is a graduate of Adams State (Class of 1980).
• Coach Capra was a member of the 1976 team before it was cut. He also played football for three seasons at Adams State and was a three-year starter at wide receiver.
Last Time Out
• Adams State was swept last weekend in an offensive showcase against Colorado Mesa.
• The first game of the series Adams State lost 12-0, the second was a little better as they lost 11-4.
• Game Three was another shutout as the Grizzlies fell, 11-0. Game Four was the closest of the series as the final score was 8-3 in favor of Colorado Mesa
Batter Up!
• The Grizzlies have three hitters over .300 heading into this weekend.
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Jared Gay is tied for the top spot on the team with a .336 average. He is 39-116 with a team-high 28 RBI. He is also tied for the team lead with six home runs. He has scored 20 runs as well and is slugging .560.
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Nico Nintze is tied for the team lead in both average and home runs. He is hitting .336 as well. He is 43-128 with six home runs and 25 RBI. He is secon
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Logan Bistrup and
Erik Hildebrandt round out the top four in the order with Bistrup at a .302 AVG, 17 RBI, and four triples. Hildebrandt has a .281 AVG, 25 runs scored and six stolen bases
• Bistrup is leading the team in plate appearances with 129.
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Nico Nintze has been red hot lately as he had two home runs last weekend and has flashed the leather as well with two home run robberies in the last two weekends.
Doing Work on the Hill
• Despite the slow start on the mound on the Grizzlies, their pitching unit has allowed no more than seven runs in their two series wins this year.
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Daniel Brennan is leading the team in ERA this season with an 8.58 ERA.
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Troy Gutbub has thrown 52.2 innings this season with an 8.72 ERA for Adams State, which has resulted in 49 strikeouts, leading the team in innings and strikeouts.
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David Maldonado has the second most innings of work for Adams State at 43.2. He has a 9.98 ERA and is 2-5 on the season. He and Gutbub have the most wins on the year for Adams State.
Road Warriors
• The Grizzlies were one the road for their first 14 games on the road before playing a single game on their home turf.
• Adams State will play a total of 26 games on the road this season and 24 games at home after the series shift with Colorado Christian.
Scouting CSU-Pueblo
• The ThunderWolves are 17-20 overall and 12-12 in RMAC play, they were swept last weekend by Colorado Mines.
• Easton Adler is the top hitter for CSU-Pueblo, he has a .411 batting average with 27 runs scored and 10 stolen bases.
• Dakota Popham is hitting .388 on the season with 39 RBI, 39 runs scored and five home runs as the top power threat for the ThunderWolves. All three of those numbers also lead the team.
• The ThunderWolves have a 7.43 team ERA with three pitchers under the 4.00 ERA mark. • Timmy Burtzloff has the best ERA on the team with a 2.84 ERA in 19.0 innings of relief work.
• Beau Brieske is the top starter for CSU-Pueblo with a 4.82 ERA in 56.0 innings pitched with 89 strikeouts, all three numbers lead the team among starting pitchers, and the innings pitched and strikeouts lead the entire team.
Up Next
• Adams State is heading to Denver next weekend to face off with Regis University in a four-game series.
• The series will start on Friday, April 26 with the first pitch set for 3 p.m.
