LUBBOCK, Texas – The University of Colorado Colorado Springs softball team took an early lead Saturday morning over the University of Nebraska-Kearney Lopers and never looked back to earn their first win of the season, 8-4. The Mountain Lions fell in the night cap game to St. Edward's University, 7-2.
After the Lopers plated one run in each of the first two innings, UCCS scored four times in the bottom of the second inning to take a 4-2 lead. With two outs and
Solana Martinez on first base,
Peyton Reisman hit a single to left field advancing Martinez to second base.
Bryn Horton loaded the bases with a single to setup
Brianna Santos for a triple that drove in three runs. Santos completed the bases after taking advantage of a fielding error when
Saleen Quinonez drilled a ball to second base.
Both teams were held scoreless and combined for two hits in the third and fourth innings, but the Mountain Lions claimed three more runs in the fifth inning to take a 7-2 lead. The first two Mountain Lions to the plate in the fifth inning flied out, but
Alex Cook's flyball to left field was dropped as she landed on the third base from the error. The next batter, Martinez, drove home Cook on a single, immediately followed by a doubled down the left field line by
Meghan Waidler that scored Martinez.
Taylor Harrison entered the game to pinch run for Waidler and crossed home plate after Reisman belted a double to left field.
UNK would respond with two runs in the sixth inning from a two-run home run, but the Mountain Lions added an insurance run in the bottom half of the sixth for the win.
Alex Cook hit a sacrifice fly to center field that brought home Morgan Hernadnez-Belew for the Mountain Lions eighth and final run of the game.
Braelyne Crenshaw picked up her first win of the season after pitching a complete game, allowing three earned runs and eight hits while sitting down seven batters.
UCCS tallied nine hits as Reisman and Horton registered two each. Horton finished the game going 2-for-2 with a run scored and drew a walk. Martinez, who drew three walks, scored twice with a hit and RBI. Santos was responsible for three of the Mountain Lions seven RBIs.
Stats against the SEU Hilltoppers are not yet available.
The Mountain Lions (1-3) will wrap-up the three-day weekend on Sunday against Newman University at 9 a.m. (MT) and Chadron State College at 1:30 p.m. (MT).
