DENVER, Colo. – The University of Colorado Colorado Springs softball team only needed five innings as the offense exploded Sunday afternoon over the University of Sioux Falls. The Mountain Lions scored 13 runs on 16 hits for their second win in two days. UCCS fell in their second game of the day to host team MSU Denver, 8-0, in six innings.
UCCS jumped out to a quick start, plating five runs in the first inning. The first three batters to the plate recorded a hit, led off with
Amanda Nobles,
Melissa Martinek and
Rayle Glover.
Taylor Reidhead stepped to the plate with one out and bases loaded. Reidhead reached first base on a fielder's choice but the Cougars defensive effort resulted in an error that led to Nobles scoring the first run of the game.
Sawyer Brewster drove home two more runs on a single to left field, and two batters later,
Taylor White added two more runs to finish the first inning with five runs on five hits.
USF left the second inning with two runners on base but not before they plated one run.
The Mountain Lions picked up where they left off in the second inning, adding seven more runs on nine hits.
Sierra Batchelor led off the inning for UCCS by drawing a walk. She moved to third base after Nobles hit a double down the left field line. Martinek brought home Batchelor and Nobles after hitting a double to left field. After a pitching change for USF, Glover singled to center field but advanced all the way to third base on an error that also scored Martinek. Peyton Romines hit the first of two triples for UCCS that scored Glover, followed by Reidhead's single to plate Romines. Still with no outs for UCCS, Brewster continued the hitting streak with a single to right field that took her to second base by a USF error.
Alex Cook hit a single but Brewster was called out at home trying to score, but Reidhead quickly followed and crossed home plate. After
Taylor White's single to left field, the Mountain Lions started at the top of the batting order with Batchelor as UCCS recorded 12 batters in the inning.
UCCS finished the top of the third inning with a double play to hold USF to only one hit.
Glover led off the third inning for UCCS with a triple down the right field line. Romines scored Glover on a sacrifice fly for the final run of the game for UCCS.
USF was able to score one run in the fifth inning as the Mountain Lions recorded their first five-inning win of the season.
Glover and Nobles led the UCCS offense going 3-for-3 at the plate. Glover drove in one run and scored three times, while Nobles added two runs scored. Martinek, Brewster and White each tabulated two hits. Bringing home two runners each were Martinek, Romines, Brewster and White.
Crenshaw earned her first win in the circle, pitching all five innings and only allowing six hits (all singles).
UCCS was shutout in the final game of the weekend.
Bryn Horton,
Saleen Quinonez and Martinek accounted for all three of the Mountain Lions hits. Three times during the game the Mountain Lions were held to three-and-out.
Both teams were scoreless through the first three innings before the Roadrunners scored one run in the fourth inning, five runs in the fifth inning and two more in the sixth.
Reidhead started in the circle for the Mountain Lions and pitched four and one-third inning, allowing four runs on four hits.
Cami Duffey entered in relief to pitch the final one and one-third inning.
The Mountain Lions will travel to Lubbock, Texas Feb. 9-10. UCCS will face Texas-Permian Basin, West Texas A&M University, and host team Lubbock Christian University.
