UCCS Opens Second Day in Vegas with 4-1 Win

LAS VEGAS - Jessica Beltserling went three-of-four at the plate and Becca Smith gave up only three hits as the University of Colorado Colorado Springs (5-2-1) earned a 4-1 victory tonight against Humboldt State (3-4) at the Desert Stinger Classic at Majestic Park in Las Vegas.
 
UCCS opened the top of the first inning with a single to third base and put two runners into scoring position before a flyout to center field ended the half of the inning. Smith retired the Humboldt State batters in order in the bottom of the first and second innings to keep the game scoreless through the first two frames.
 
The Mountain Lions fell behind in the top of the third inning with the first two batters retired off a strikeout and groundout, respectively, before three hits put two UCCS student-athletes on base for Jessica Belstering's turn at bat. A single to right field advanced Lara Mathewson to second, but Jourdan Hitchings were called out at the plate after the right fielder made the throw to the catcher for the third out.
 
Humboldt State scored its only run of the game in the bottom of the third on a solo home run. Allie Cordis opened the top of the fourth inning with a leadoff home run on a 1-1 count, and the Mountain Lions continued to put runners on the bases with T.J. Flodman in scoring position before a groundout to the shortstop ended the inning.
 
The Jacks switched pitchers in the fifth inning, where the Mountain Lions scored three hits on four errors, and left two more runners on base. The UCCS defense retired the Humboldt State batters in order in the fifth and seventh innings en route to the first win in Las Vegas this weekend.