COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The University of Colorado Colorado Springs softball team used solid pitching and timely hitting to pick up two more wins over Adams State University on Sunday afternoon to complete the four-game series sweep of the Grizzlies.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP
Final: Game 1: UCCS 8, ASU 0 | Game 2: UCCS 5, ASU 3
Records: UCCS (16-12, 14-6 RMAC), ASU (8-23, 3-17 RMAC)
Location: Mountain Lion Field | Colorado Springs, Colo.
All-Time Series: UCCS improves their record to 67-56 all-time against Adams State and have now won seven consecutive games against the Grizzlies.
HOW IT HAPPENED | GAME ONE
- The Mountain Lion's struck first in the bottom half of the second inning as they demonstrated some aggressive baserunning to force an Adams State error that put UCCS ahead 1-0. With pinch-runner Brianna Jennings on first base, designated player Courtnie Heller dropped down a sacrifice bunt and Jennings took a hard turn around second base to head towards third before eventually scoring on a throwing error to the third base bag.
- A single by Morgan Hernandez-Belew and a double from Mia Perez would plate two more runs in the inning to extend the lead to 3-0.
- UCCS kept the momentum rolling in the bottom half of the third inning, using four hits and a walk to score four more runs and take a comfortable 7-0 advantage.
- With the bases loaded in the bottom of the fifth, a wild pitch by Adams State pitcher Kaitlyn Jackson brought home freshman Briana Mattos from third to finish off an 8-0 run-rule win for the Mountain Lions.
STATS FROM GAME ONE
- UCCS received solid production from the top of their lineup as Hernandez-Belew and Perez each recorded two-hit games and combined to post four of the team's 11 total hits.
- Hernandez-Belew also matched outfielder Bryn Horton with a pair of RBIs to lead the team in game one.
- In addition to their 11 hits, the Mountain Lions drew five walks against Adams State pitching. Horton led the team with two walks as she went on to reach base in each of her three plate appearances.
- Braelyne Crenshaw (5-7) pitched five scoreless innings to earn her second win of the series and fifth win of the season. The redshirt junior scattered four hits while striking out five hitters and walking none.
HOW IT HAPPENED | GAME TWO
- The Mountain Lions and Grizzlies traded runs in the first inning as Adams State scratched the scoreboard on a throwing error by Peyton Reisman before shortstop Solana Martinez tied the game at one with a solo home run in the bottom half of the inning.
- Adams State regained the lead, 3-1, in the top of the third inning when Sydney Muniz cracked a two-run home run over the left field fence off UCCS starter Lexi Rayburn.
- UCCS responded in the bottom half of the fourth inning with a two-run home run of their own off the bat of freshman Paige White, tying the game at three runs apiece.
- After Horton walked to lead off the fifth inning and easily stole second, Martinez lifted a high fly ball to center field that narrowly cleared the fence for a two-run home run, her second of the game, to put the Mountain Lions back in the lead at 5-3.
- Junior Gabrielle Cronin entered the game in relief of Rayburn in the fifth inning holding a two-run lead and went on to retire each of the six batters that she faced to lock down the series sweep for UCCS.
STATS FROM GAME TWO
- The Mountain Lions totaled seven hits in the second game of the day, led by Martinez and Sawyer Brewster with two each.
- Martinez and White combined to drive in each of the five UCCS runs in the game, with Martinez recording three RBIs and White driving in two.
- Rayburn (7-3) turned in a solid outing in the circle as she threw five innings and held the Grizzlies to three runs (two earned) while striking out four hitters.
- Cronin earned her first save of the season after pitching two perfect innings to hold the Mountain Lions late two run lead.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- The series sweep is the first for the Mountain Lions since sweeping Black Hills State University in a four-game series last season on March 6-7, 2021.
- With hits in both games today, Reisman extends her hitting streak to 11 games, which currently ranks as the longest by any Mountain Lion this season.
- Martinez's two home run game in the second game of Sunday's doubleheader was the first multi-homer game for any UCCS player this season.
UP NEXT
- UCCS will travel to Durango, Colo. on April 2-3 to continue their conference schedule with a four-game series against the Skyhawks. The first doubleheader of the series will begin on Saturday at 12 p.m. followed by another twin bill on Sunday starting at 11 a.m.
SOCIAL
Twitter – @GoMountainLions
Instagram – @gomountainlions
Facebook – GoMountainLions
As a member of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, the University of Colorado Colorado Springs competes in 16 varsity sports in NCAA Division II intercollegiate athletics.
