EDMOND, Okla. – The University of Colorado Colorado Springs softball team started their second weekend of the non-conference season in Edmond, Okla. and Oklahoma City, Okla. at the UCO/OCU Festival II on Friday. The Mountain Lions fell to Rogers State University in the weekend opener, 14-6 (five innings), and University of Central Oklahoma, 10-5.
In the weekend opener, the Mountain Lions and Hillcats set a facility record for the coldest game played at Tom Heath Field. When
Braelyne Crenshaw threw the first pitch at 9 a.m. (MT), the temperate at the field was 23 degrees with a wind chill factor of 17, breaking the previous facility record of 28 degrees (2014).
The Hillcats warmed up their bats quickly, scoring three runs in the top of the first inning behind a triple and home run. UCCS came close to scoring their first run in the bottom half of the inning after
Alex Cook singled, and
Courtnie Heller and
Payton Romines drew walks to load the bases, but a ground out to end the inning stranded all three base runners.
RSU took advantage of a walk and a fielding error when Sabrina Anguiana hit a three-run home run give RSU a 6-0 lead.
UCCS responded in the bottom of the second.
Solana Martinez led off the inning with a walk, followed by a fielding error that put
Meghan Waidler on base.
Bryn Horton drew a walk to load the bases for UCCS for the second time in as many innings.
Brianna Santos grounded out to second base but Waidler and Martinez were able to score two runs to put UCCS on the scoreboard.
Saleen Quinonez cut RSU's lead in half, 6-3, when she hit a sacrifice fly to centerfield that scored Horton.
The third inning saw both teams each bring four batters to the plate and collect a total of two hits. However, RSU kept their home run streak going and belted one over the fence for the third straight inning.
Peyton Reisman retaliated with her second home run of the season when she went yard over the center field fence.
Rogers State increased their lead in the fourth inning with three more runs. Trailing 10-4 in the bottom half, UCCS added two more runs on three hits to shorten the lead to four runs, 10-6. Quinonez' single to right center scored Horton who was able to reach base after drawing her second walk of the game. Heller chipped in a RBI that scored Quinonez from third base.
The cold stung the Mountain Lions in the fifth inning when RSU plated four runs on two hits after four batters were walked, a wild pitch and an error were committed, giving the Hillcats a 14-6 lead and the eventual win.
Reisman finished the game going 2-for-3 with one run scored and one run batted hit. Cook added hits while Horton drew two walks and scored twice.
Crenshaw suffered the loss in the circle, allowing 10 earned runs on nine hits in 4.1 innings.
In game two on Friday against the UCO Bronchos, the home team started with a 4-0 lead after one inning of action.
The Mountain Lions cut into the Bronchos lead in the second inning, scoring three runs on three hits.
Solana Martinez started off the inning reaching first base on a fielding error.
Taylor White then drew a walk to bring Horton to the plate. Nifty base-running by Martinez and White advanced them each one base on Horton's at-bat, leading to two runs scored on Santos' triple. Quinonez was responsible for the third run of the inning when she singled to the left field to score Santos, bringing UCCS to within one run of the Bronchos, 4-3.
UCO added cushion to their lead in the second inning when they led off with back-to-back home runs, pushing their lead to 6-3. UCCS was quick to respond in their third outing at the plate. Reisman started the third inning with a double to center field and quickly crossed home plate when Martinez drove her in with another double. After a UCO pitching chance, White registered the Mountain Lions third straight double of the inning that scored Martinez, bringing UCCS withing one run, 6-5.
The scoring would cease for UCCS as the Bronchos charted four more runs in the next four innings while holding the Mountain Lions scoreless.
Santos and White each tallied two hits to account for eight of the Mountain Lions hits. Santos went 2-for-4 with two RBI and a run scored, while White went 2-for-3 with a RBI, one run and a walk.
Cami Duffey pitched all six innings, allowing 10 runs on 16 hits with two strikeouts.
UCCS will face Oklahoma Christian University on Saturday at 11 a.m. (MT), and Northeastern State University at 5 p.m. (MT).
